[S4E1] Satoyamas: Aso-Kuju Grasslands

About this episode

This episode explores the unique conservation model of Satoyamas in Japan, focusing on the Aso-Kuju Grasslands and their ecological significance.

The grasslands of Japan are beautiful, full of volcanos, and revered by the people living there. Japan's unique model of conservation method of Satoyamas is one we wish the US would model - one where people push to thrive alongside the environment, not claim or set it aside. Allan hosts this episode and the five minute math break in the middle has been severely shortened (though stick around past the credits for a bit more). Primary Sources : Chakraborty, S. (2018). The Interface of Geology, Ecology, and Society: The Case of Aso Volcanic Landscape . In: Chakraborty, A., Mokudai, K., Cooper, M., Watanabe, M., Chakraborty, S. (eds) Natural Heritage of Japan. Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism. Springer, Cham. Sustaining Aso's Grasslands . Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Aso's Wildlife . Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Direct download: Satoyama in Japan: For Nature-Based Solutions (2022 Report) . Japanese Ministry of the Environment. +++ More of Our Work +++ Website Facebook TikTok Twitch Bluesky +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate…

People in this episode

Host: Allan

Topics covered

• grasslands
• conservation
• Japan
• Satoyama
• environment
• Aso-Kuju

Keywords

• Satoyama
• Aso-Kuju
• grasslands
• Japan
• conservation
• ecology
• environment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Grassland Groupies, Japanese Ministry of the Environment

Books & works: Natural Heritage of Japan

Places: Japan, Aso-Kuju Grasslands

More episodes of The Best Biome

• [S5E1] If You Mess with The Bull · March 26, 2026 · 1h 17m
• [S4E9] State of the Grasslands 2025 · December 11, 2025 · 2h 26m
• [S4E8] The Spookiest Biome! · October 9, 2025 · 45 min
• [S4E6] Rivercane Reverie · August 14, 2025 · 1h 1m
• [S4E5] Sunflower Politics · July 10, 2025 · 54 min
• [S4E4] Healing the World (and Heavy Metals) with Plants · June 12, 2025 · 55 min