Biodiversity-driven Nutrient Cycling and Human-wellbeing in Socio-Ecological Systems

Noboru Okuda

Technological innovation in energy and food production resulted in population growth, increase in life expectancy and economic prosperity. However, overexploitation of the resources leads to disturbance of natural biogeochemical cycles of many elements, and in particular the carbon cycle and those of macronutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus). This in turn has impacts on both human society and the environment. Imbalances in the carbon and nutrient cycles have caused serious environmental problems, contributing to global warming due to increased CO₂ and water pollution due to increased nitrogen and phosphorus loadings. These anthropogenic disturbances in the carbon and nutrient cycling are also the main driver of biodiversity loss on a global scale. At present, it has been recognized that nutrient loadings and biodiversity loss are so common and prevalent throughout the planet, resulting in sustainable risk to human development.

When considering the nutrient balance, phosphorus plays a key role in controlling terrestrial ecosystem processes, presenting a “too much too little” problem in the environmental and social contexts. Because of its scarcity relative to other macronutrients, on one hand, phosphorus determines ecosystem functioning and thus the quality and quantity of ecosystem services. On the other hand, overexploitation of phosphorus resources threatens our sustainability because phosphorus resources are consumed many orders of magnitude faster than they are replenished. Especially in developing countries, the price hike for fertilizer due to phosphorus resource depletion is critical because it will accelerate poverty, starvation and local disputes. To resolve these social and environmental problems, we have to practice 4Rs (Recycling, Reuse, Reduction and Retention) of nutrients within a socio-ecological system on watershed scales.

The ultimate goal of our research is to find a solution for the current nutrient imbalance associated with local and global environmental issues by constructing sustainable　socio-ecological systems in which nutrient cycling and human-wellbeing are interdependently enhanced through biodiversity conservation within a watershed. To reach this goal, we aim to develop a framework of adaptive watershed governance according to the process of transdisciplinary science. To empower citizens to practice conservation of local biodiversity and restore natural nutrient cycling functions in watershed ecosystems, we establish new methodology to visualize how nutrient cycles are rehabilitated through the practice of local knowledge which has fostered wise and sustainable use of natural resources. We also evaluate a variety of ecosystem services derived from local biodiversity as incentives for conservation activities. With the integration of local and scientific knowledge, we practice the adaptive governance to restore nutrient balance and cycling desirable for sustainable socio-ecological systems.

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