Multi-Stakeholder Environmental Assessment (MS-EA) in Small-Scale Private Industrial Forest in Kochi Prefecture

2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15130
• Research Institution: Kochi National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Gain Dennis 高知工業高等専門学校, ソーシャルデザイン工学科, 准教授 (60815538)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Low perception EIAs

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Literature on the topic has been mostly acquired, however, delayed due to lacking availability. Nevertheless literature reviews are in progress. First surveys and interviews have been conducted at forest owners associations, and public forest departments in the research area about the role EIAs could play in the local management of small-scale private forest. An overview of of subsidy activity has been acquired. It was found that EIAs are not conducted and that perception of practitioners of the advantages of implementing EIAs are rather low. Also, EIAs do not seem to have played a role in the management of national industrial forest. Most focus is put on weighing cost and benefit of forest works. The first research report is being prepared.

Current Status of Research Progress

4: Progress in research has been delayed.

Reason

The delay of the research progress is explained as follows:

- difficulty in obtaining some relevant literature
- The outbreak of COVID-19 has slowed and will further slow the progress of this project, at least in this year, due to social distancing, travel restrictions and institutional measures affecting the planning of the school year. Ways to compensate are being investigated.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The planning of future work is dependent on how COVID-19 will further influence social mobility. There is a possibility that international business trips and surveys will have to be postponed to the next year. Focus for the time being will therefore be laid on the gathering of data and information through literature and online meetings.

Causes of Carryover

In the academic year of 2020, I will be unable to take time to perform field investigations because of extra school duties which occurred due to the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, unused funds will be taken into the next academic year when domestic and international field investigations will become executable.

I am willing to balance expenses for articles and travel by the last year of this project.