Scrutiny of design principles for sustainable use and management of forests focusing on the empowerment of local communities

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K12398
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 80010:Area studies-related
• Research Institution: Forest Economic Research Institute (2023); Japan University of Economics (2021-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Nagahama Kazuyo 一般財団法人林業経済研究所, その他部局等, 研究員 (40839239)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 森林パンチャーヤト / インド / ウッタラーカンド州 / 自治的組織 / 質的研究 / 森林統計分析 / 構造的面談調査 / 参加型森林管理

Outline of Final Research Achievements

More than 10 years of research and studies on the sustained use and management of forests have been accumulated, focusing on the "Van(Forest) Panchayat" which is local people's organization as an example of community-based forest management in India. Based on the indicators collected through literature review, the analysis was conducted from Indian Forest Statistics and village survey data. The results and analysis of the structural interview survey in Uttarakhand revealed the conditions for sustainable use and management of forests.
The study also looked at forests in Japan, visiting community forests in Fukuoka and Oita to summarize and present conditions for sustained use and management. It has become clear that the characteristics of Indian "Van Panchayats" are similar to those of "Zaisanku (Property Wards) " in Japan, where local resources are managed autonomously by local people. This study also has implications for solving problems in forest use and management in Japan.

Free Research Field

地域研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生活に必要とされるコミュニティ林の持続的利用管理と研究の課題を論じた。インド・ウッタラーカンド州の「森林パンチャーヤト」の特徴は、日本の地域の資源住民により自治的に管理する「財産区」の特徴と類似していることが明らかになった。
初年度と2年目は日本経済大学の教員として、また最終年度は林業経済研究所の研究員として、インド国立環境研究所、国内の大学、地域の森林ボランティア組織等で、講演活動や探究学習についての実践を推進した。インドでの研究をもとに、国内の森林利用の課題と解決方法について提案した。積極的に執筆活動を行い、論文や本を刊行して、研究のアウトリーチ活動に努めた。