Edonomy

During the Edo period in Japan (1603 to 1868) what is probably the world’s first ecological civilisation flourished.

Although feudal and run by a military dictatorship, Japan at this time was governed by regulations that allowed little or no waste. When the Tokugawa shoguns took over there was a significant scarcity of wood caused by population growth and the resulting decrease in ancient woodland. Bans were introduced on felling of trees, and on the use of lumber in construction, and other limitations soon followed. A replanting programme was instigated and more than 1,000 recycling and refurbishing businesses opened up in what is now Tokyo, then home to nearly a million people.

This fascinating article from the BBC written by Roman Krznaric, the author of a book that explores the Edo period and asks what lessons we can learn from Japan, and other parts of the world, in these days of crisis for our environment.