2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Exploring the emergence and governance dynamics of nature-based solutions for enhancing urban resilience
| Project/Area Number |
19F19761
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| Research Institution | Utsunomiya University |
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Principal Investigator |
高橋 若菜 宇都宮大学, 国際学部, 教授 (90360776)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KISS BERNADETT 宇都宮大学, 国際学部, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-11-08 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Nature-based solutions / urban / governance / case studies |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The research activities during the FY 2021 entailed ongoing background research on the Japanese context of urban nature-based innovations, governance structures and enabling/limiting conditions. As opposed to the original plan, due to the circumstances created by covid-19, more focus was given to literature analysis, which was complemented with exploratory interviews if it is judged to be safe and feasible. Based on the case-study research template, case studies had been continued to be carried out in Utsunomiya, Sendai and Kumamoto - mainly through literature analysis, but also field research (e.g. interviews, site visits).
In Utsunomiya and Sendai cities, case studies were carried out in parallel from April to October 2020, through literature analysis and field research (interviews, site visits, workshops, mobile labs), analysis of NBS (a) governance dynamics and (b) enabling or limiting factors).
For the third case study (Kumamoto), we had planned to conduct the literature reviews and field studies between November 2020 and January 2021, but due to the spread of corona infection, we had to postpone field visits. Finally, we were able to conduct the study in March 2021, just before the end of the fiscal year.
In parallel, we have also been discussing comparative analysis and submitting papers for publication in academic journals.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Given foreseen and unforeseen events, good progress has been made in the research. The progress of the research has been affected by two major issues: Covid-19 and language. The latter was foreseen, and to the best of our capabilities has been dealt with continuously. The primary solution has been found in the form of a personal research assistant with good English knowledge who has been employed in the research project from mid-January 2020 onward. The other limiting event, Covid-19 was not foreseen and created a great limitation - as it hit exactly at the time when the period of conducting interviews with relevant representatives was to begin. In our judgment, it was not appropriate to reach out and ask people for their time in this critical time of the pandemic. Thus, more focus was given to literature analysis, which was complemented with exploratory interviews if it is judged to be adequate and feasible.
In spite of these difficulties, we were able to conduct at least one field study per city in Utsunomiya, Sendai, and Kumamoto, taking into account the declaration of a state of emergency and measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Additional field studies (if it is judged to be adequate and feasible):
First case study (Utsunomiya): To conduct additional field visits by participating in satoyama conservation activities and urban agriculture activities and conduct participatory observations.
Third Case study (Kumamoto): To conduct an additional site visit, if coronavirus-related restrictions are relaxed.
Comparative analysis phase (Apr 2021-Nov 2021):
In parallel, based on the research activities during FY 2019 and FY 2020, we will conduct background research on the Japanese context of urban nature-based innovations, governance structures and enabling/limiting conditions, and the literature analysis and field research (interviews, site visits, workshops, mobile labs), to analyze comparative NBS (a) governance dynamics and (b) enabling or limiting factors for the three case studies.
We also plan to draft two academic articles co-authored with Japanese partners in the broader research field of sustainable urban development, and have presentations and discussions at two multi-stakeholder workshops with the aim of enhancing understanding of governance dynamics and mutual learning in the area of nature-based innovations in October and November 2021, respectively.
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