2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Biodiversity, climate and community linkages in socio-ecological production landscapes
| Project/Area Number |
19F19795
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
Gasparatos Alex 東京大学, 未来ビジョン研究センター, 准教授 (20726369)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
GUPTA HIMANGANA 東京大学, 未来ビジョン研究センター, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-10-11 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Mountain ecosystems / Satoyama Initiative / Sustainability / Climate Change / Biodiversity / Himalaya / MODIS / Apple plantations |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
(i)Objectives of the research: Most objectives, based on the feasibility of achievement driven by COVID conditions, were achieved this year, except one - the development of an adaptation framework for the mountain landscapes. (ii)Field work: Field visits were completely halted during 2020-2021, therefore, a field visit as envisaged in the previous progress report could not be conducted. Previous experiences from the field were combined to prepare a documentary film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PsQmQpdSfk&t=133s as also envisaged in last financial year’s plan. (iii)Analysis of collected data: The collected data from the visit was analyzed and a research paper based is under preparation.
(iv)GIS based analysis: Due to lack of field exposure this year, land use land change assessments were used for MODIS NDVI multi-temporal analysis which helped in understanding the phenological and seasonality variations in all the blocks of the field area (Kinnaur Himalaya) in India. (v)Research publications and outreach: One edited book, two book chapters, and one discussion paper is published. Eight invited lectures were also delivered.(vi)Reviews: Expert reviewer of IPCC WGII sixth assessment report and various IPBES reports which will contain my name and designation.(vii)Conferences: Most conferences expected to be conducted were postponed or cancelled. However, participated in online sessions of SBI and SBSTTA of CBD.
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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
Research plan for this financial year was to complete one field visit in India and a few Satoyama project sites in Japan. In addition, was supposed to achieve all my research objectives this year. Due to COVID conditions, the plan for field visit was changed to an entirely GIS based assessment of the study area in India. This was completed between December 2020 and March 2021. The research paper is under preparation. One objective that completely relied on field work is yet to be achieved. As far as the publication plan is considered, two research papers submitted in December 2020 and January 2021 are under review. Meanwhile, I co-edited three springer books, one of which is already published, one is in Press, and one is under preparation for submission on 31st May 2021. I contributed to five book chapters in these books. This mostly completes my research plan for this financial year, but COVID situations have severely impacted conference and outreach related research activities.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
(i)Field work: Field visits to Satoyama sites in Japan, if possible, in July 2021.
(ii)Development of an adaptation framework for the mountains: This important and last objective is to be achieved this year. However, this framework would now focus particularly on the Himalayas. Collaboration with UNDP India as a part of their ‘Secure Himalayas’ project will help me get some primary data on sustainability and biodiversity indicators. The collected data from the previous visit will also be used.
(iii)Research publications and outreach: Two book chapters, two research papers and one policy brief are expected to be published by the end of this financial year.
(iv)Documentary: Preparing for a short documentary on indigenous knowledge and biodiversity.
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