Exploring values embedded in policy options of the cultural landscapes of Japan through the Nature Futures Framework

Cultural landscapes represent a nexus of cultural values, traditions, and land-use practices; hence, they are essential areas to capture embedded values where humans and nature are interconnected. Understanding these multi-faceted human-nature relationships is crucial for transitioning to sustainable futures. Cultural ecosystem services, relational, and social values are some of the frameworks used to understand the intertwined relationship between biological and cultural diversity and the valuation of ecosystem services. Nevertheless, limitations persist in effectively capturing diverse values under these frameworks; therefore, we test the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) proposed by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to capture these diverse values. We focus on Japan’s cultural landscapes by reviewing 28 cases within the International Partnership of the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) and the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) networks. We analyze policy options to understand the diverse values of policy choices in these bioproduction systems. The study showcases the significance of relational values and the mobilization of intrinsic and instrumental values in revitalizing the cultural landscapes of Japan. This exploration offers valuable insights into necessary value shifts for effective integration of CES into public decisions within evolving cultural landscapes, alongside facilitating quantitative analysis of pluralistic values in policy options.