Progress in the 21st century: a Roadmap for the Ecological Society of Japan

The primary goal of the 60th anniversary symposium of the Ecological Society of Japan (ESJ) was to re-examine the role of the Society. The first of five lectures, Development of Long-term Ecological Research in Japan, discussed the increasingly important role of long-term and networked research studies. Ecological research in Asia faces many challenges, because Asia features natural and anthropogenic landscapes with highly diverse ecosystems. Developing Strategies of the Ecological Society of Japan for Worldwide Societies of Ecology with Special Reference to Strategies for Asia emphasized the role of ESJ in promoting ecological research and outreach in Asia. Ecosystem sustainability is a key issue in both the theory and practice of ecosystem management. A framework concept of an environmental and biodiversity cycle was proposed in the session Linking Community and Ecosystem Dynamics for understanding the mechanisms driving the sustainability of ecosystems. Ecosystem services are essential aspects of land use and conservation planning and management. Integrating Models of Ecosystem Services and Land Use Changes reviewed recently-developed models that simulate patterns of land-use change and analyze its effects on ecosystem services and also recommended future directions for collaboration among researchers. Disaster Resilience and Coastal Ecology highlighted the contributions of ecologists to evaluating the resilience of damaged coastal ecosystems and provided sound proposals to local communities and governments for rehabilitation plans. The past achievements and future directions of ESJ were discussed by the panelists and the audience in Past and Future of the Ecological Society of Japan..