Project title
Analysis of nature conservation and sustainable tourism initiatives in UNESCO World Natural Heritage Yakushima Island
Research Unit
Primary investigator
Project period
2021/5/19 ～ 2022/3/31
Project summary
This research will analyze nature conservation and sustainable tourism initiatives in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of Yakushima Island. The project will be conducted with the Ministry of the Environment as the main local partner, and other local stakeholders such as NPOs will also be liaised with. The main research sites will be in the central highland area and naturally rich coastal locations such as the Nagatahama Beach.
Activity reports
During this project, field research was conducted in the Yakushima Island WNHS on two occasions. During the field research, tourism and WNHS management stakeholders were interviewed, and trail/natural heritage conditions were documented at various locations such as the Shiratani-Unsui Gorge, Yakusugi-Land, Nagatahama Beach, Seibu Rindo Forestry Line, Mt. Mocchomu foothills and Senpiro Waterfall and the coastline at the southern and western parts of the island. However due to the coronavirus pandemic, I was forced to alter a part of the initial plan, and could not achieve the number of face-to-face interviews thatI had initially hoped for. Barring these minor shortcomings (all of which were due to a situation that was not under my control) I believe the research went reasonably well. A presentation at the Association for Japanese Geographers Fall Meeting will be made and I also hope to write a paper during FY 2022.
