2016 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
里山里海の保全・再生に関する研究：資源管理の観点からの分析
| Project/Area Number |
15F15784
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
Gasparatos Alex 東京大学, サステイナビリティ学連携研究機構, 准教授 (20726369)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
CHAKRABORTY SHAMIK 東京大学, サステイナビリティ学連携研究機構, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-11-09 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | Coastal environments / ES analysis / DPSIR / Himeshima / Japan |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In the fiscal year 2016, four fieldworks have been carried out in Himeshima Island, and Nakatsu tidal mudflat in Nakatsu City, in Oita Prefecture, with analysis of ecosystem services. In Himeshima, this included methods such as face-to-face questionnaire survey, and focus group discussions (FGDs). The survey was used to explore the different provisioning and cultural services people enjoy for the coastal seascapes. The FGDs on the other hand were used for exploring the shared vision regarding the regulating and supporting services. FGDs were also used for building Drivers-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model with local stakeholders. At Nakatsu (fieldwork ongoing), face-to-face questionnaire survey has been applied with different stakeholder groups (i.e. fishermen, birdwatchers, NGOs, nature protection groups, farmers, farmer-cum-fishermen, forestry practitioners, government officers, local businessmen etc.) to reveal provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services from the mudflat ecosystem and the perceptions of the stakeholders towards these ecosystem services (ESs). The novelty of the research is that the case studies have been approached especially from a cultural ecosystem service (CES) perspective, and their visualization as terrestrial (viz. agricultural production, recreation) and coastal (viz. bequest, aesthetics, marine food culture, recreation), which is not well explored in ecosystem service science. The findings include visualization of the total amount of ES, and the division of ES between coastal and terrestrial seascapes/ landscapes.
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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
In the FY 2016, four fieldworks with a household questionnaire survey, together with FGDs in Himeshima, could be completed. A new case study on ecosystem services from the Nakatsu mudflat could also be added to the study with two fieldworks so far. The results of the Himeshima and Nakatsu cases have been presented in international conferences such as Japan Geoscience Union Meeting, 2016, where the importance of geological and geomorphological features (e.g. the case of mudflats) were raised for management of cultural seascapes such as ‘satoumi’, Association of Japanese Geographers Conference together with panel discussions in 2016 (conference proceeding E-Journal GEO, 11(2)), and 2nd Annual Conference on Sustainability, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh in 2017. The last conference has been an invited one made through online system from Japan; the presentation was included in the ‘Life under water’ (SDG 14) sub-theme of Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, in Himeshima, sustainable ecotourism options are being explored (as a part of grounding of the research results for the management of local seascapes) with interested local stakeholders for a low-key approach to the management of seascape environments.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In the future, the research will look to focus more on the case of Nakatsu mudflat, carrying out ecosystem service analysis with face to face questionnaire survey involving key stakeholders of the mudflat ecosystem. The empirical data will be backed up by secondary data such as the use of complementary capital (i.e. number and types of boats, nets, and tools used) for harvesting of coastal resources, together with census data and data on land use and its change. The research is expected to (1) produce results in published form with two academic papers form Himeshima study, (2) ground part of the research results at the local level for conservation and sustainable utilization of local landscapes and seascapes. In addition to writing academic journal papers, I plan to work towards publication of an edited book on the management and future challenges of coastal ecosystem management in Japan, with a major focus on cultural part of ecosystem service management and conservation of coastal seascapes. The volume will be a useful one for both experts as well as general readers. Regarding grounding of the results at the local level, prospect of sustainable (eco)tourism and planning at Himeshima will be explored with particular attention towards appreciation and experiencing of local nature with associated educational values; at Nakatsu pathways for grounding will be explored by raising awareness among the local residents about the importance of mudflat environments (mainly through dissemination of research results in non-technical language and formats).
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Research Products
(4 results)
