The resilience of nature depends on how rich the creatures that inhabit that ecosystem are.We must have a better understanding of the species, distribution, and function of biodiversity to effectively regulate human activities that can do negative effects.In the meantime, human society needs to take precautionary approach for prevention of ecological damage.

The wintering ground of Roseate terns which breed as summer birds in Japan was not known despite nearly 30 years of research.However, the mystery was solved at last when Roseate terns with Japanese bands were recovered in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef in winter 2002.The nesting numbers of Roseate terns in the surrounding islets of Okinawa island have been declining for the past few years.We should find ways such as establishing sanctuaries on breeding islands to co-exist with this species which serves as a bridge between Japan and Australia.

Kobe has accumulated marine transport, shipbuilding, and ports and harbors, has shaped a dynamic maritime industrial cluster, and has come to be blessed with a regional edge as a hub of maritime industry in East Asia.However, nowadays, the influence of the maritime industry on the Kobe regional economy is slowing down and the cluster effect is going down.This article considers the necessary measures for the recovery of the maritime cluster based on an analysis of the present state of the Kansai maritime cluster and a survey of regional maritime specialists' perception.