Like you, I see the proposal of monetizing ecological services as a decidedly temporary step rather than a holistic solution. I think the value of this mentality is about trying to convey important relationships to a different group of people by putting it terms they can better understand. This is certainly positive as education is key. My qualms with this are similar to those that have been mentioned above.

The first problem is that the entire mentality reeks of the misdirected ethos that we are slowly “mastering” nature, as if we have even begun to understand the complexities of natural ecosystems enough to catalog their parts and rate their worth relative to how many Big Macs they could buy. A recent biological study published in PLoS Biology journal estimated the total number of species on the plant at 8.7 million with 2.2 million of them in the oceans. The same study points to us only having identified 14% of the species on land and 9% of those in water.

My second problem is that affixing a price, however high, to a natural resource is creating a point where it would be theoretically valuable to cash in and sell it off for a greater opportunity. As far as I am concerned, trying to weigh the natural environment in dollars and cents is like trying to ascribe a price to democracy. I imagine some dedicated souls could try and postulate the American premium of being a democracy instead of a dictatorship, but whatever number they come up with would be irrelevant because democracy is not for sale at any price. Similarly, clean drinking water has a market value and we could tabulate it’s cost at all parts of the globe and multiple it by its natural quantity, but the fact remains that there is no price that would make the depletion of the earth’s drinking water an acceptable “transaction” for our race.

The same goes for the rest of the natural world. The dollar value has relatively little meaning given that its very existence is trying to represent something unquantifiable. What is the difference between saying that the annual value of all the natural capital in the world is $33 trillion vs. $35 trillion? Both try to convey that environmental systems are really, really valuable, but both are wrong. Nature isn’t valuable, it’s invaluable.

If this is the step that some of us need in order to convey the gravity of our need to change our relationship to the natural environment then so be it, but ultimately we need to realize that the complex structure of the world’s ecosystems is integral to our existence.

You can find both BBC versions and original Japanese versions in HD on usenet.

Satoyama I Japan’s Secret Watergarden 1999
Satoyama.II.Japans.Secret.Watergarden. 1080p.DD2.0.x264

BBC Version:

BBC – Natural World – 2006 – Satoyama Japan’s Secret Watergarden

Contrasting this with the recent activities of the American federal government only makes one realize how a whole nation can be controlled by sleepwalkers whose only goal is to keep the old paradigm of greed and environmental destruction alive as long as possible and to arrange things so that rich people get more.

I work for the time when all the peoples of all the nations follow in the footsteps of Japan, awakening to the declining habitability of our planet and moving with all their passion and energy to heal those wounds.

Here is my point, Japan will be a leader world wide and the kinds of insights that are discussed in this posting will be essential for all the world as we deal with an increasing series of natural disasters. What will be important is reestablishing a balance with nature and greed for accumulating more wealth and money will be seen for the planet destroying activity that it is.

This is the Great Work for humanity in this era… to live in harmony with nature and to form sustainable economies that foster the flourishing of life in a healthy biosphere. Gilding argues that we will either do it or our civilization will collapse and the work begins right now! We have already waited too long and the response required will be unprecedented.

What quickly comes to mind are several wonderful initiatives:

1) Eco-Villages
I think that eco-villages represent some of the Satoyama/satoumi characteristics. They have been developing for decades as a different way of human co-habitation compared to cities, suburbia, or rural towns. Quite a lot has been written about them. I recently stumbled upon “Living Green, Communities that Sustain” by Jennifer Fosket and Laura Mamo.

2) Refurbishing “Ghost Towns”
Architectural and building firms have been refurbishing so-called ghost towns in some parts of the world including Mediterranean countries and even Japan, I hear – turning them into luxury hotels and spas and upscale stores. The 9th century Medieval village of Eze overlooking the brilliantly blue Mediterranean on the French Riviera is a lovely example.

My dream would be to revitalize the ghost towns and turn them into small communities where families (perhaps even of several generations) would select a home as an alternative to city or suburban living. The self-employed as well as employees are more and more able to live remotely from customers or their corporate offices while remaining connected with them through teleconferencing and online collaborations (desktop sharing, etc.).

The children would enjoy growing up in an exciting, safe, healthy, and fun environment. Some community members may get together and start planting fruit or olive trees, vegetables, or even wine. Others may see to it that the community become more and more energy independent by incorporating renewable energy sources. Yet others may be the artsy types and contribute that way: writing, painting, doing crafts, designing theater costumes and creating plays, or engaging in music performances. Yet others may want to explore their natural surroundings and go on hiking, camping, or canoe trips. The sky’s limit as far as adding the spirit of satoyama and satoumi.

3) Introducing or incorporating “Nature” to urban living
I know that in the Bay Area in other metropolitan areas a number of recent initiatives are aiming at bringing back “nature” to urban living. Although this might not adequately represent the satoyama and satoumi principles, I think it’s a nice step in the right direction.

4) Sekem in Egypt and Findholm in Scotland
Exceptional world renowned satoyama and satoumi-like communities are Sekem in Egypt and Findholm in Scotland, two outstanding endeavors that combine food self-sufficiency (and trade/export) and partial energy independence with the intent of maintaining a spiritual, balanced, peaceful, and harmonious foundation to living.

Second
“Signs of hope in Sendai”
http://www.odemagazine.com/blogs/readers_blog/24784/signs_of_hope_in_sendai

Third
“A spirit of endurance in Japan”
http://www.odemagazine.com/blogs/readers_blog/24805/a_spirit_of_endurance_in_japan

Forth
“Deciding to stay in Sendai”
http://www.odemagazine.com/blogs/readers_blog/24828/deciding_to_stay_in_sendai

Her blog at Ode Magazine online:
http://www.odemagazine.com/p2/Anne%20Thomas/blogs

Susan from Texas, I agree: In her poignant letter Anne portrays the noble traits the Japanese possess which I have always admired. That their dignity would hold up in the face of this horrendous event, the frequent aftershocks, and the threatening nuclear situation is something even I could not have imagined.

Anne mentioned a donation and provided a link. Let me take this opportunity to add a few other options for making donations and some additional information:

Yahoo just put this list of organizations together to which to donate:
“Japan earthquake and tsunami: How to help”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_newsroom/20110311/wl_yblog_newsroom/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-how-to-help

I found Amazon the quickest way to donate:
“American Red Cross: Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami”
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=tsm_1_fb_s_atst_lhwuei?&node=2673660011

This link contains message boards and people finder websites:
http://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/archives/PR_e/2011/pr_11_0311.htm

As if we/they didn’t have enough: This National Geographic article is not for the faint-hearted”:
“Japan Earthquake Not the “Big One”?” Megaquake long predicted—but in totally different region
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110315-japan-earthquake-tsunami-big-one-science/

Alan, I am so grateful to your colleague for sending you this most inspiring letter and for you to follow up and post it.

It is true, then, what they say: that every cloud has a silver lining….