A comparative study on excluding and accepting of gathering activities in forest

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24710044
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental impact assessment/Environmental policy
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: SAITO Haruo 東京大学, 農学生命科学研究科, 助教 (10450214)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 自然アクセス権 / コモンプール資源 / 資源利用圧 / 人口密度 / 資源の希少性 / 生態系サービス / 自然とのつながり

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Factors which make rural residents will decide whether exclude outsides’ access to minor resources in forest or not are comparatively analyzed by surveying various cases. Scarcity of resource, relative pressure of use, labor investments to resource, and awareness of territory are abstracted as factors which drive rural residents to exclude outsiders. Besides, costs of exclusion and awareness for social demerit of exclusion, such as low consciousness to environment or depression of food culture, were abstracted as factors which reduce level of exclusion. Mainly, the dynamics of excluding and re-opening the access to forest minor resources can be explained as an issue of cost-benefit balance. To ensure public access right to forest minor resource, two important challenges are pointed out. One is to clarify the limit of access pressure which promises sustainable yield. The other is to establish a norm which prevent outsiders from disturbing environment and rural residents' life.

Free Research Field

森林政策学