Quantitative comparative analysis of municipal strategies using heritage designations by the UN for biodiversity conservation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26360062
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tourism Studies
• Research Institution: Tohoku University (2016-2017); Kanazawa University (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: Kohsaka Ryo 東北大学, 環境科学研究科, 教授 (50509338)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 酒井 暁子 横浜国立大学, 大学院環境情報研究院, 教授 (20344715) ; 冨吉 満之 久留米大学, 経済学部, 准教授 (20506703) ; 徳山 美津恵 関西大学, 総合情報学部, 教授 (80363951) ; 柴崎 茂光 国立歴史民俗博物館, 大学共同利用機関等の部局等, 准教授 (90345190) ; 大野 智彦 金沢大学, 法学系, 准教授 (30531884)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SANO Hiroyoshi 東洋大学, 国際観光学部, 准教授 (50449310) ; OKANO Takahiro 環境省, 自然環境局・自然環境計画課 (30613898) ; HANDOH Itsuki 新潟大学, 自然科学系, 准教授 (40446266)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 世界農業遺産 / ジオパーク / エコパーク / 世界自然遺産 / 地理的表示 / 生物多様性 / 地域戦略 / テキスト分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The benefit and challenges of regional designations for municipalities are examined. These include UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), and the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) managed by FAO. We examined the awareness and strategies of the local stakeholders. The main research sites are the Noto GIAHS site, Hakusan as a MAB, and the Itoigawa Geopark. From the results, we identified gaps between the local expectations (increase in local-product price or number of tourists) and the institutional goals of the regional designations, using quantitative data. As a scheme to harmonize the local needs and the goals of the designations, synergistic utilization of the regional designations with products-level certifications such as Geographical Indications is explored and suggested as municipal tourism strategies. Based on the outcomes, we published peer-reviewed papers in the academic journals with international collaborations from Europe and Asia.

Free Research Field

国際環境・自然資源マネジメント学