Promotion of Symbiotic Relationship Between Human and Ecosystems in a Small Island

People have become aware that maintenance of symbiotic relations between people and their surrounding environment is important not only for people’s happiness but also for their own existence on the earth system. Facing up to reality, however, there have arisen matters of regret caused by the human lives and activities. One of big problems we have to consider is scatter of waste and debris on natural beaches, especially in the coastal area near the dense populated area. We have to remember that the scatter is the results of human activities mainly on the coastal land area. The problem had become serious on a small island located near the mouth of Osaka Bay, where rubbishes such as tins, bottles and plastic bottles, bags and sheets have been piled and remained on the beach for more than half a century. People living in a small community, who were worrying about the decline of the ecosystem of the small island, started the activity of beach cleaning more than ten years ago. Since then, the quality of the ecosystem on the island has been maintained in a permissible condition. They also started the field researches on the fauna and flora in and around the island to make an inventory of fauna and flora. Their activities were appreciated and they were honored with testimonials commending their contribution on the maintenance of symbiosis. In the present paper, people’s activities are introduced with the importance of promoting the symbiosis with ecosystem in surrounding natural environments.