Kyoto University-born Startup Biome Signs Partnership Agreement with the Nature Conservation Society of Japan

Biome Inc. (Headquarters: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture; Representative Director: Shogoro Fujiki; hereinafter 'Biome') and the Nature Conservation Society of Japan (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Board Chair: Toshiyuki Tsuchiya; hereinafter 'NACS-J') have signed a partnership agreement aimed at realizing a nature-positive society. This agreement focuses on citizen-led, community-based biodiversity conservation and the resolution of local social issues through these efforts.

Background

As global biodiversity faces severe degradation, there is an urgent need to realize a 'nature-positive' society that puts nature on a path to recovery. Because biodiversity varies significantly by region, it is crucial to understand these characteristics and implement tailored initiatives. Furthermore, for these efforts to be sustainable, they must go beyond mere environmental conservation and contribute to enhancing local appeal and solving social issues.

To advance these movements in a community-rooted and continuous manner, it is essential for local citizens to take the lead in monitoring changes in nature and participating in conservation and restoration activities.

What is Citizen Science?

Efforts where citizens collaborate across the country to observe, record, and conserve local nature—often called 'citizen science'—have gained attention in recent years as an effective means of continuously monitoring local ecosystems. NACS-J has spent nearly 30 years developing and promoting citizen science methodologies.

Biome provides the 'Biome' creature collection app, which allows anyone to easily participate in biological surveys. By accumulating biological data from users across a wide range of regions, Biome has built one of Japan's largest biological distribution big-data sets. Based on this data, the company develops and operates multiple services specialized in the field of biodiversity.

By leveraging their respective strengths, both organizations will use citizen science as a foundation to promote community-based nature-positive initiatives together with citizens.

Partnership Details

1. Establishing a framework for citizen-participatory biodiversity monitoring

Building on citizen science, the partners will develop monitoring methods to continuously track the state and changes of biodiversity at the local level. By combining expert knowledge with citizen observations and records, they aim to establish practical monitoring methods tailored to local natural characteristics.

2. Collection, evaluation, and local utilization of biodiversity data

The partners will collect and organize information on biodiversity obtained through citizen surveys and existing data at NACS-J activity sites. The evaluation results will be used to consider policies for promoting nature-positive initiatives, improve projects, and build consensus among stakeholders.

3. Promoting environmental education and developing human resources through citizen science

The partners will promote citizen science initiatives to expand opportunities for people of all ages to engage with and learn about local nature. Through these opportunities, they aim to encourage participation in local conservation activities and identify new leaders.

Future Outlook

Through this partnership, the organizations aim to provide opportunities for every citizen to notice, learn about, and act on changes in their local nature, ultimately realizing a citizen-led, community-based nature-positive society.

Biome Inc.

A Kyoto University-born startup with the mission of 'making biodiversity conservation a social norm.' The company provides the 'Biome' creature collection app, which features a proprietary species-identification AI.