- Project Leader : Suzuki Reiji (Kyoto Gakuen University, Faculty of Bioenvironmental Science)
- Collaborators : Ando Kazuo (Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asia Studies)
- : Ohnishi Nobuhiro (Kyoto Gakuen University, Faculty of Bioenvironmental Science)
- : Takeda Shinya (Kyoto University, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies)
- : Akamatsu Yoshiro (Ehime University, Unitied Graduate School of Agriculture)
- : Khin Lay Swe (FREDA (Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association)
- : Yezin Agricultural University, Department of Agricultural Botany)
Outline of Research
Since the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) was held in 2010, awareness of the conservation and utilization of biodiversity and environment in “Satoyama” area has been raised to a global level. However, the concept of natural resource management in the “Satoyama” area is not well recognized in Myanmar yet. In this study, indigenous resource management a in “Satoyama” area of Myanmar and Japan will be compared based on field research in both countries. Field Stations in Myanmar, Kyoto and Shiga prefecture is actively utilized for the research activity. We will invite Dr. Khin Lay Swe, who have engaged in practice-oriented studies on agricultural and environmental issue in Myanmar for several years, to conduct joint field research with Japanese researchers in the Sato area of Shiga and Kyoto prefecture. The outcome of the field research will be presented and discussed in monthly seminars and international workshops to elucidate an effective way to harmonize rural development and natural environment conservation in the “Satoyama” area of Myanmar.
Description
In this study, we will systematize a method of natural resource utilization in relation to human activities in the “Satoyama” area of Myanmar. Then, natural resource utilization in Myanmar and Japan will be compared by field research in both countries. This study aims to elucidate an effective way to harmonize rural development and natural environment conservation in “Satoyama” area of Myanmar through, field research, international workshop, and seminars. This study is a pioneering research project to introduce in the “Satoyama” perspective of Myanmar. Through comparative research in the “Satoyama” area of Myanmar and Japan and integration of these results in both countries, the significance of “Satoyama” will be discussed by many researchers, NPOs and government of Myanmar.
Our research activity will be announced on the web site of Department of Practice-oriented Area Studies. The outcome of this study will be presented in the annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Tropical Ecology and the Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture. Interim workshops and final workshop will be held in 2014 and 2015, respectively and the final results of the study will be submitted to the English journal of Southeast Asian Studies. Dr. Khin Lay Swe will planning to publish a book to summarize her research outcomes from the last couple of years on natural resource utilization.
 Charcoal kiln(The Bago Mountains, Myanmar) |
 Burning of swidden agriculture (Yogo town, Shiga prefecture) |