Research activity information

• Mangrove forest food products as alternative livelihood measures: mangrove conservation by community in Muara Gembong, Bekasi Regency, Indonesia

  Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Husen Rifai, La Ode Alifatri, Yaya Ihya Ulumuddin, Yuki Sofue, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia offer vital ecosystem services, yet they face ongoing deforestation and degradation, stemming from natural and anthropogenic disturbances, such as sea level rise and urbanization. This research investigates the utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) derived from mangroves as a means to balance economic development, improve community livelihoods, and promote environmental conservation. Specifically, the potential of mangrove forest food products as alternative livelihood measures is explored within the context of community-based conservation efforts in Muara Gembong, Bekasi Regency, Indonesia. The study focuses on two community groups, POKDARWIS Alipbata and Kebaya, engaged in mangrove conservation and NTFP production, such as mangrove chips and crackers, confectionery, mangrove juice, and mangrove syrup. Through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, the research uncovers the strengths of community participation, the challenges of limited infrastructure and market transformation, and the opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and ecological restoration. From the mangrove ecosystem's perspective, the FGDs also revealed the opportunity for the Muara Gembong site to be further expanded for mangrove planting and ecotourism. However, there is also a threat from environmental disasters and illegal mangrove cutting. The study underscores the potential of mangrove NTFPs to contribute to food security, local economies, and conservation efforts while also highlighting the need for diversification, capacity-building, and equitable benefit-sharing.

  SPRINGERNATURE, Apr. 2025, DISCOVER SUSTAINABILITY, 6(1) (1), English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Association between objective and subjective relatedness to nature and human well-being: Key factors for residents and possible measures for inequality in Japan’s megacities

  Yuta Uchiyama, Akira Kyan, Masayuki Sato, Atushi Ushimaru, Toshifumi Minamoto, Kazuhiro Harada, Minoru Takakura, Ryo Kohsaka, Mieko Kiyono, Tetsuya Tsurumi, Atsuhiko Uchida, Tatsuya Saga, Kenta Yamamoto

  Apr. 2025, Landscape and Urban Planning, English, International magazine

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Green spaces and mental health in the context of materialism: A comparative analysis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

  Tetsuya Tsurumi, Yuta Uchiyama, Masayuki Sato, Mari Morioka

  Elsevier BV, Dec. 2024, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 102, 128567 - 128567

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Construction, Assessment, and Protection of Green Infrastructure Networks from a Dynamic Perspective: A Case Study of Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China

  Liang Lyu, Kojiro Sho, Han Zhao, Youngkeun Song, Yuta Uchiyama, Jihwan Kim, Takeru Sakai

  Elsevier BV, Oct. 2024, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 128545 - 128545

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Combined effects of urban blue–green spaces on the thermal environment: a case study of Kobe, Japan

  Yu Zhang, Yuta Uchiyama, Masayuki Sato

  Global climate change has led to the deterioration of urban thermal environments, resulting in serious negative impacts on human well-being. As a countermeasure, the public sector has established ad hoc policies, but there are concerns about the financial sustainability of these policies. This study focuses on economic land-use policies for blue–green spaces, using Kobe City as a case study, and evaluates and discusses economic policies such as the Production Green Space Law by quantitatively assessing the combined effects of blue–green spaces. Using Landsat-8 remote-sensing images from the summers of 2014 and 2019, this study retrieved land surface temperatures (LST) by applying the Radiative Transfer Equation method. The results indicated that (1) the area with LST above 32 ℃ in 2019 showed a significant trend of expansion compared with that in 2014. (2) The LST in 2014 was ranked as follows: built-ups, bare land, farmland, water bodies, grassland, and forests. (3) The impact of landscape pattern metrics on LST varied by grid scale, and the correlation was validated at a grid scale of 1200 m. However, the correlation was not significant at a grid scale of 1500 m. (4) The higher the concentration and area of the forests, the better the cooling effect. Regression analysis revealed that water bodies had a mitigating effect on LST. Water bodies and forests exhibited a weak combined warming effect; however, the diminutive regression coefficients suggested that the overall combined effect was not notable. Moreover, the Law on Productive Green Areas is conducive to improving the urban thermal environmental effect, providing the necessary agricultural production support for the city, and improving the well-being of residents.

  Sep. 2024, International Journal of Economic Policy Studies

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal

  Link to Kobe Univ. Repository (Kernel)


• Decision dynamics and landscape approach by individuals and collective groups: the case of Japanese rural land use in agricultural, forest, and boundary areas in an era of population decline

  Yoshitaka Miyake, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Yuta Uchiyama, Chika Takatori, Ryo Kohsaka

  Establishing a decision-making scheme for multiple land use types in a shrinking society is an urgent and persistent task. In particular, residents and governments face the complexity of cross-sectoral visions over concerned landscapes. This study examined the preference of residents for future visions and the effects of group deliberation in a Japanese rural community to enhance the current understanding of decision and learning processes on cross-sectoral land use types (i.e., agricultural land, forest land, and boundary areas) across ages and groups. This study posed the following questions: (i) what types of interactions do residents find among options on cross-sectoral land uses? and (ii) how do group deliberation influence the individual preferences of residents for land use? In the survey, the residents disclosed their preferences for the prepared visions over three land use types. The survey also enabled the comparison of choices before and after group deliberation. Regarding question (i), the residents’ choice prior to the deliberation demonstrated thematic coherence through land use categories. Smart technology and potential productivity improvement were selected across agriculture and forests. However, regarding question (ii), thematic coherence decreased after the group deliberation. The residents could communicate disagreements during group deliberation and consider the issues relatively independently over land use types, which separately views agriculture lands and forests. The choice after group discussions became increasingly embedded and influenced by residential areas and land ownership of residents. These findings provide unique insights into the group discussion on how individual decisions are affected. In summary, the preferences of cross-sectoral land use types did not converge but tended to diverge.

  Sep. 2024, Discover Sustainability, 5(1) (1)

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Local environment perceived in daily life and urban green and blue space visits: Uncovering key factors for different age groups to access ecosystem services

  Yuta Uchiyama, Akira Kyan, Masayuki Sato, Atushi Ushimaru, Toshifumi Minamoto, Mieko Kiyono, Kazuhiro Harada, Minoru Takakura

  Elsevier BV, Sep. 2024, Journal of Environmental Management, 370, 122676 - 122676, English, International magazine

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal

  Link to Kobe Univ. Repository (Kernel)


• Simulation of policies to promote pro-environmental behavior in a dynamic learning model of social networks: Cases of Brazil, the United States, Japan, Germany, China, and India

  Shinsuke Kyoi, Yuta Uchiyama, Koichiro Mori

  Pro-environmental behavior does not seem to diffuse sufficiently in Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, India, or the United States. Based on the current distribution of carbon footprints and learning patterns (DeGroot learning, best practice, and free riding) in social networks in the six countries, what will happen to the diffusion of pro-environmental behaviors in each country? What policy measures will be most effective? This study aims to simulate the diffusion of pro-environmental behavior and to test the effectiveness of various policy measures in a dynamic social network model in the six countries. The distribution of pro-environmental behaviors is generated by global gridded carbon footprint data. The distribution of learning patterns in social networks is estimated in each country, using data from the World Values Survey. This study considers three policy measures: increasing the number of people pursuing best pro-environmental behavior practices (best practice promotion, [BPP]), decreasing the number of free riders (free-riding reduction, [FRR]), and converting the learning patterns of people with high degrees of centrality into best practice (centrality-based best practice promotion, [CBPP]). Interesting findings were threefold. First, there are large differences in the estimated degrees of individual pro-environmental behavior and the proportions of learning patterns in the six countries. Second, FRR and BPP are effective in promoting pro-environmental behavior, but the choice of FRR or BPP depends on the initial proportion of free riders. Third, CBPP is the most effective policy of the three in all countries. Centrality in social networks must be considered when implementing intervention.

  Aug. 2024, Sustainable Development

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Analysis of forest environment transfer tax and prefectural policies: typology of prefectural support to municipalities in the initial phase from 2019 to 2021 in Japan

  Yuya Suzuki, Yuta Uchiyama, Satoshi Tachibana, Koji Miwa, Ryo Kohsaka

  Feb. 2024, Journal of Forest Research, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Understanding community awareness of seagrass ecosystem services for their blue carbon conservation in marine protected areas: A case study of Karimunjawa National Park

  Husen Rifai, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Kevin M. Lukman, Udhi Eko Hernawan, La‐ode Alifatri, Johan Risandi, Kuswadi, Kristiawan, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Jul. 2023, Ecological Research, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Progress of blue carbon research: 12 years of global trends based on content analysis of peer-reviewed and ‘gray literature’ documents

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Apr. 2023, Ocean & Coastal Management, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Does novel food differ in cultural contexts? A comparative analysis of Japanese and Singaporean cultural acceptance through text analysis of mass media

  Hikaru Matsuoka, Yuta Uchiyama, Kritdikoon Woraitthinan, Ryo Kohsaka

  Jan. 2023, Current Research in Food Science, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Applying the DPSIR framework to qualitatively assess the globally important mangrove ecosystems of Indonesia: A review towards evidence-based policymaking approaches

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Yaya Ihya Ulumuddin, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Elsevier BV, Jan. 2023, Marine Policy, 147, 105354 - 105354

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Potential of seagrass habitat restorations as nature-based solutions: Practical and scientific implications in Indonesia

  Husen Rifai, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Calyvn F. A. Sondak, Johan Risandi, Udhi Eko Hernawan, Yuta Uchiyama, Rohani Ambo-Rappe, Ryo Kohsaka

  Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Dec. 2022, Ambio

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Capturing landscape values in peri-urban Satoyama forests: Diversity of visitors' perceptions and implications for future value assessments

  Barbara Kovács, Yuta Uchiyama, Yoshitaka Miyake, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Ryo Kohsaka

  Elsevier BV, Dec. 2022, Trees, Forests and People, 10, 100339 - 100339

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Examining who benefited from green infrastructure during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020: Considering the issues of access to green areas from socioeconomic and environmental perspectives

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Lead, Elsevier BV, Nov. 2022, Journal of Environmental Management, 322, 116044 - 116044, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Use of the Forest Environment Transfer Tax for forest data development and exchange: evidence from all 47 prefectures in Japan

  Ryo Kohsaka, Yuta Uchiyama

  Informa {UK} Limited, Oct. 2022, Forest Science and Technology, 1 - 12, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Visiting Peri-Urban Forestlands and Mountains during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Analysis on Effects of Land Use and Awareness of Visitors

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  This research analyzed the status of visiting peri-urban forestlands and mountains during the first COVID-19 emergency period in Japan using a large-scale online questionnaire-based survey. We identified and examined the factors that correlated with visits to such areas, including respondents’ social-economic attributes, environmental conditions (such as the land use patterns of their residential areas), and awareness of the functions of forestlands. The results suggest that environmental conditions are a major factor encouraging residents to visit peri-urban forestlands and mountains during the pandemic. Peri-urban areas with forestlands have such environmental conditions, and residents who visited peri-urban forestlands and mountains tended to live in peri-urban areas. Residents’ expectations regarding forest functions were also strong factors influencing them to visit those places. Those who visited forests and mountains expected these areas to have mental health and educational functions. Especially, female respondents tended to be aware of forestlands as spaces for mental and physical relaxation, and respondents who have one or more children tended to be aware of the educational functions of forests. These findings imply that policy should consider the role of environmental conditions, awareness, and expectations about the function of forests and mountains, and prior interactions with nature in encouraging residents to visit such places for their health during the pandemic. These factors could also play a role in addressing the social and environmental disparities that exist between residents of different socio-economic statuses regarding access to nature. In future research, the detailed relationships between residents’ environmental conditions and expectations/awareness of the functions of peri-urban forestlands and mountains need to be explored.

  Lead, MDPI AG, Jul. 2022, Land, 11(8) (8), 1194 - 1194, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Understanding rural and urban perceptions of seagrass ecosystem services for their blue carbon conservation strategies in the Philippines

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Wiley, Jun. 2022, Ecological Research, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Tourism impacts on small island ecosystems: public perceptions from Karimunjawa Island, Indonesia

  Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Yuta Uchiyama, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Ryo Kohsaka

  Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Jun. 2022, Journal of Coastal Conservation, 26(3) (3), English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Designing participatory green area management and biodiversity conservation strategies in the era of population shrinkage: empirical analysis of multi-generational perceptions on Satoyama rare species in central Japan

  Yuta Uchiyama, Chika Takatori, Ryo Kohsaka

  Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Apr. 2022, Landscape and Ecological Engineering, 18(3) (3), 321 - 339, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Urban Gardening and Wellbeing in Pandemic Era: Preliminary Results from a Socio-Environmental Factors Approach

  Diana Harding, Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Matheus Jingga, Yuta Uchiyama, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Ryo Kohsaka

  The nature and impacts of living in urban settings are gaining their saliences in developed and developing countries alike, particularly during the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the crisis, the wellbeing of urban society became intertwined with a so-called “new lifestyle”, which involved quarantine and working in a home environment. Facing such challenges, urban gardening is deemed as an alternative intervention to enhance residents’ wellbeing and the environmental sustainability of urban areas, including Indonesian cities. A preliminary study was conducted to monitor the wellbeing of urban gardening practitioners, as well as investigate the motivation and any association between gardening and wellbeing with the COVID-19 pandemic situation by analysing data from Indonesian metropolitan areas. The study utilized instruments of “satisfaction with life scale (SWLS)” and “scale of positive and negative experience (SPANE)” to investigate the subjective wellbeing of 67 respondents. Amongst others, we identified that urban gardening practitioners tend to be in positive moods and have better overall wellbeing; 52.24% of the respondents were highly satisfied with their life. Furthermore, we observed a variety of motivations to start gardening, with hobby and utilization of free space as prominent reasons, followed by other motivations such as environmental benefit and aesthetic. Integrating the environmental benefits of urban gardening and the implications for an individual’s wellbeing can be reflected for sustainable urban development and policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  MDPI AG, Mar. 2022, Land, 11(4) (4), 492 - 492, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Status and Trends in Forest Environment Transfer Tax and Information Interface between Prefectures and Municipalities: Multi-Level Governance of Forest Management in 47 Japanese Prefectures

  Ryo Kohsaka, Yuta Uchiyama

  In 2019, Japan introduced a national forest-environment-transfer tax (FETT). Prefectural and municipal governments receive tax revenue. Currently, 37 prefectures in Japan have prefectural forest taxes, and the prefectures need to demarcate how their own taxes and the national tax are being used. This study analyzed the overall use trends of national tax, which is for supporting municipal forest management, and review the status of prefectural forest environmental taxes. National tax was primarily applied to organizing the information of forests and their owners. The main com-ponents of support by prefectures to municipalities were support to questionnaires for private forest owners, other technical supports, securing successors, and training successors. Regarding the pre-fectural taxes, forest types and policies, which were implemented by the taxes, were reviewed in 18 prefectures. The differentiation of the tax uses of prefectural tax and FETT as a national tax was implemented based on the types of forest and supporting activities, and the spatial scales of forest management. The formation of FETT does not necessarily accompany the flexible assignment of jurisdictions and functions of multi-level governance, with potentially limiting impacts so far. This study could concretely conclude with the demand for participatory social learning toward sustainable forest policymaking and implementations of payment for ecosystem services in forests at the multi-levels of the national government, prefectures, and municipalities.

  Feb. 2022, Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(3) (3), English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Income Change and Inter-Farmer Relations through Conservation Agriculture in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan: Empirical Analysis of Economic and Behavioral Factors

  Yoshitaka Miyake, Shota Kimoto, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Conservation agriculture, also known as environment-friendly agriculture, is expected to contribute to global climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. To understand the effect of conservation agriculture on farmers and identify those factors, such as farmers’ income change, that might affect practices of conservation agriculture, perceptions, and output, this study examined farmers’ economic and behavioral factors, motivation, and satisfaction. We surveyed 51 farmers who are receiving subsidies to practice conservation agriculture in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The survey is one of the first prefectural-scale studies that combines unique quantitative analysis of motivation and satisfaction levels (e.g., behaviors) in temporal sequence from the initial to current time to practice conservation agriculture. Our results showed that years of experience, trade with a retail shop, and the farmer’s age can affect income change. With regard to social factors, the satisfaction of their fellowship with other farmers practicing conservation agriculture was also significantly correlated with income change. Simultaneously, this category of satisfaction was difficult to attain compared to the other categories. Thus, greater effort is needed to enhance support networking among conservation farmers. Furthermore, the work presented here also provides the opportunity for future research on temporal and spatial questions surveying economic and behavioral effects with consideration of the heightened policy promotion and entrance of large retail industries.

  Feb. 2022, Land, 11(2) (2), English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Biodiversity Strategies for Islands: Towards Utilization of Life Cycle Assessment

  KOHSAKA Ryo, UCHIYAMA Yuta

  Institute of Life Cycle Assessment, 2022, Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Japan, 18(3) (3), 124 - 129

  Scientific journal


• Sustainable aquaculture to ensure coexistence: Perceptions of aquaculture farmers in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

  Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Elsevier BV, Nov. 2021, Ocean & Coastal Management, 213, 105839 - 105839

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Cultural ecosystem services from the afforestation of rice terraces and farmland: Emerging services as an alternative to monoculturalization

  Ryo Kohsaka, Koji Ito, Yoshitaka Miyake, Yuta Uchiyama

  Elsevier BV, Oct. 2021, Forest Ecology and Management, 497, 119481 - 119481

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Community perceptions of long-term mangrove cover changes and its drivers from a typhoon-prone province in the Philippines

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Aug. 2021, Ambio

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Land Use Changes Assessment using a triangulated framework: Perception Interviews, Land-Use/Land Cover Observation, and Spatial Planning Analysis in Tanjung Batu and Derawan Island, Indonesia

  Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Yuta Uchiyama, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Diana Harding, Ryo Kohsaka

  Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Aug. 2021, Human Ecology

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Strategies of Destination Management Organizations in Urban and Rural Areas: Using Text Analysis Method for SWOT Descriptions at Meta-level

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Jul. 2021, International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 1 - 19

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Local perceptions of blue carbon ecosystem infrastructures in Panay Island, Philippines

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Nature-based solutions (NbS) address socio-environmental challenges by sustainably managing ecosystems that offer and support the delivery of various services. NbS can integrate locally relevant options for maintaining ecosystems, thus, encourages the participation of local stakeholders. For instance, mangroves referred here as "blue carbon ecosystem infrastructures" (BCEIs), are being reforested by local stakeholders because of their role in coastal protection and, increasingly, for their contribution to global carbon sequestration. This study examined two mangrove eco-parks in Panay Island, Philippines using perception surveys to (1) offer empirical evidence of the impacts of well-implemented BCEIs, (2) obtain conceptual implications of NbS, and (3) provide practical prospects for BCEI applications in the country. Results show that respondents who access the eco-parks have higher awareness compared to people who did not use it, suggesting eco-parks can promote mangrove awareness. Local's utilization of provisioning and cultural services of the eco-parks indicates that mangroves can be a valuable income source. Engaging residents in the management of eco-parks boosts their participation and willingness to lead. The mutualistic relationship between locals and mangroves observed in this study implies the positive effect of BCEI in the country particularly on people's well-being, coastal protection, and climate change mitigation if implemented and maintained successfully.

  TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, Jul. 2021, COASTAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 63(3) (3), 227 - 247, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Are Municipalities Ready for Integrating Blue Carbon Concepts?: Content Analysis of Coastal Management Plans in the Philippines

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Ryo Kohsaka

  The blue carbon ecosystems are gaining salience in the international arena due to their intrinsic role in climate change mitigation. Reviews on management strategies and plans at the local level are largely overlooked, although they are crucial factors in translating commitments to contextualized actions for sustainable management. The primary goal of this study is to investigate the present coastal management plans for blue carbon ecosystem management strategies using content analysis of the local plans of select municipalities in the Philippines. The analysis generated eight (8) clusters based on keywords focusing on mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, namely: ecological profile, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, tourism, natural threats, anthropogenic threats, laws, policies, & ordinances, and management activities. The management activities cluster has the most coverage while the carbon sequestration cluster is the least mentioned. There is also a distinct gap in the inclusion of mangroves compared to seagrasses in the coastal management plans where these ecosystems are present in the localities concerned. Mangrove ecosystems are frequently mentioned, covering all clusters while seagrass ecosystems are discussed to less extent in only five (5) clusters. This study also showed that the "blue carbon" concept is not yet fully incorporated in the current management plans where carbon sequestration cluster is only discussed under mangrove ecosystems in one of the sites while no discussions for seagrasses' "blue carbon" functions. The results of this study can serve as a benchmark for local policy-makers in updating their present management plans particularly in branching their focus on integrated management of seagrass ecosystems and advancing technical capacity and knowledge on blue carbon ecosystems.

  TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC, Jul. 2021, COASTAL MANAGEMENT, 49(4) (4), 334 - 355, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Special issue: “urban agriculture, forestry and green-blue infrastructure as “re-discovered commons”: Bridging urban-rural interface”

  Ryo Kohsaka, Yuta Uchiyama

  MDPI AG, Jun. 2021, Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(11) (11), English

  Scientific journal


• Linking blue carbon ecosystems with sustainable tourism: Dichotomy of urban–rural local perspectives from the Philippines

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Elsevier BV, Jun. 2021, Regional Studies in Marine Science, 45, 101820 - 101820

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• A blue carbon ecosystems qualitative assessment applying the DPSIR framework: Local perspective of global benefits and contributions

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes or collectively known as blue carbon ecosystems are gaining salience because of their essential roles in reducing the risks and impacts of climate change through carbon sequestration and other beneficial services. Despite this, they are globally declining because of their vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Similar trends are also observed in Busuanga Island, Palawan province in the Philippines, where blue carbon ecosystems along with other coastal environments are perceived to be threatened by a number of factors. To better understand the state changes of blue carbon ecosystems, we collected the drivers and pressures and their impact on the whole coastal ecosystem as well as existing management responses by interviewing 26 stakeholders representing community organizations, non-government organizations, and municipal level government units from two municipalities (Busuanga and Coron) in the island. We used the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to analyze the information gathered from the interviews. The results of this study show that lack of institutional capacities (indirect driver) is the leading factor that hinders the progress or efficacy of the management. Most pronounced pressures caused by direct drivers to blue carbon ecosystems include overexploitation and coastal developments. The responses collected in the interviews can be grouped into policies and implementation, capacity building development, welfare and livelihood development, ecosystems management, and tourism measures. The information gathered in this study can be used to improve or change existing responses into more precise and contextualized measures in addressing specific impacts observed in the local areas.

  Jun. 2021, Marine Policy, 128

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Towards Evidence Based Policy Making in GIAHS: Convention Theory and Effects of GIAHS Registration on the Wholesale and Retail Trade of Traditional and Local Vegetables

  Yoshitaka Miyake, Yuta Uchiyama, Yoshinori Fujihira, Ryo Kohsaka

  This study examines how the registration of certain agricultural regions affects the sales of vegetables classified as traditional. We focused on the sales trends of traditional vegetables from the Noto region, one of the first designated sites of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). We compared the sales of recognized traditional vegetables to those of similar traditional vegetables from nearby areas and vegetables labeled with the same place names as the traditional vegetables but without elements of traditionality in branding. The study analyzed the sale and relevant trends of four categories of vegetable: Kaga vegetables, vegetables labeled “Kaga”, Noto vegetables, and vegetables labeled “Noto”. We further analyzed the trends by applying Convention Theory to understand the underpinning “orders of worth” in the purchase and sale of the items. Both Noto vegetables and place-labeled vegetables increased in overall sales since GIAHS registration in 2011. The recent increases in sales volume and number of items, however, were largely due to the production of lettuce, a crop from a vegetable factory. By applying Convention Theory, we identified that in the agriculture of the region, industrial farming impacted even the GIAHS registered site. Thus, careful collection and analysis of evidence is necessary to evaluate the effects of GIAHS registration and draft an action plan for further evidence-based policy making.

  MDPI AG, May 2021, Sustainability, 13(10) (10), 5330 - 5330

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Forest Environment Transfer Tax, Prefectural Forest Policy, and Support for Municipalities

  Ryo Kohsaka, Yuta Uchiyama

  The Japanese Forest Society, Apr. 2021, Journal of the Japanese Forest Society, 103(2) (2), 134 - 144, Japanese

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Local awareness as an instrument for management and conservation of seagrass ecosystem: Case of Berau Regency, Indonesia

  Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Yuta Uchiyama, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Ryo Kohsaka

  Berau Regency in East Kalimantan has one of the intact seagrass ecosystems in Indonesia which is increasingly under pressure. Threats to this ecosystem mainly derives from anthropogenic activities such as land conversion and tourism activities, which can lead to ecosystem degradation and carbon emissions. This study explores the indirect and direct drivers by analyzing the locals' awareness of the benefits of seagrass ecosystem services through semi-structured interviews and a random sampling questionnaire in several areas in the Berau Regency, namely Derawan, Tanjung Batu, and Tanjung Redeb. Highlights of this research include evidence on occupation's correlation with resource utilization and awareness, with fishermen showing higher utilization of the seagrass ecosystem from the provisioning aspect and government employees having a high capacity for knowledge of various seagrass ecosystem services. Insight from this study provides further understanding on the influence of aspects such as resource utilization and the involvement of the local government, in regards to the local awareness of seagrass ecosystem. The role of fisherman and government can be critical to raise the awareness and to support the communities' efforts to manage the seagrass ecosystem.

  Apr. 2021, Ocean and Coastal Management, 203

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• How Blue Carbon Ecosystems Are Perceived by Local Communities in the Coral Triangle: Comparative and Empirical Examinations in the Philippines and Indonesia

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Ryo Kohsaka

  Blue carbon ecosystem (BCE) initiatives in the Coral Triangle Region (CTR) are increasing due to their amplified recognition in mitigating global climate change. Although transdisciplinary approaches in the “blue carbon” discourse and collaborative actions are gaining momentum in the international and national arenas, more work is still needed at the local level. The study pursues how BCE initiatives permeate through the local communities in the Philippines and Indonesia, as part of CTR. Using perception surveys, the coastal residents from Busuanga, Philippines, and Karimunjawa, Indonesia were interviewed on their awareness, utilization, perceived threats, and management strategies for BCEs. Potential factors affecting residents’ perceptions were explored using multivariate regression and correlation analyses. Also, a comparative analysis was done to determine distinctions and commonalities in perceptions as influenced by site-specific scenarios. Results show that, despite respondents presenting relatively high awareness of BCE services, levels of utilization are low with 42.9–92.9% and 23.4–85.1% respondents in Busuanga and Karimunjawa, respectively, not directly utilizing BCE resources. Regression analysis showed that respondents’ occupation significantly influenced their utilization rate and observed opposite correlations in Busuanga (positive) and Karimunjawa (negative). Perceived threats are found to be driven by personal experiences—occurrence of natural disasters in Busuanga whereas discerned anthropogenic activities (i.e., land-use conversion) in Karimunjawa. Meanwhile, recognized management strategies are influenced by the strong presence of relevant agencies like non-government and people’s organizations in Busuanga and the local government in Karimunjawa. These results can be translated as useful metrics in contextualizing and/or enhancing BCE management plans specifically in strategizing advocacy campaigns and engagement of local stakeholders across the CTR.

  MDPI AG, Dec. 2020, Sustainability, 13(1) (1), 127 - 127

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Application of biomimetics to architectural and urban design: A review across scales

  Yuta Uchiyama, Eduardo Blanco, Ryo Kohsaka

  Application of biomimetics has expanded progressively to other fields in recent years, including urban and architectural design, scaling up from materials to a larger scale. Besides its contribution to design and functionality through a long evolutionary process, the philosophy of biomimetics contributes to a sustainable society at the conceptual level. The aim of this review is to shed light on trends in the application of biomimetics to architectural and urban design, in order to identify potential issues and successes resulting from implementation. In the application of biomimetics to architectural design, parts of individual “organisms”, including their form and surface structure, are frequently mimicked, whereas in urban design, on a larger scale, biomimetics is applied to mimic whole ecosystems. The overall trends of the reviewed research indicate future research necessity in the field of on biomimetic application in architectural and urban design, including Biophilia and Material. As for the scale of the applications, the urban-scale research is limited and it is a promising research which can facilitate the social implementation of biomimetics. As for facilitating methods of applications, it is instrumental to utilize different types of knowledge, such as traditional knowledge, and providing scientific clarification of functions and systems based on reviews. Thus, interdisciplinary research is required additionally to reach such goals.

  Dec. 2020, Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(23) (23), 1 - 15

  [Refereed]


• Status and trends of urban organic agricultural policy in Japan: the survey on ordinance designated cities

  Yoshitaka Miyake, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Development of organic agriculture has been sluggish in contemporary Japanese society. To better understand and capture the status of policy implementation in both urban and semirural areas, this study examined ordinance designated cities (ODCs) by reviewing tendencies and their interests in organic agricultural policies. In concrete, this study reviews the status, trends, interests, and barriers of organic agricultural policies in Japan. This study compared ODCs covering largely urban areas and those ODCs including semirural areas. The quantitative element of comparisons is based on the population and economic size and then on semirural and agricultural characteristics through cluster analysis. As a result, urban ODCs were more concerned about the policies close to consumption. ODCs including semirural areas were more concerned about the ones on production. There are also ODCs in between to show diverse characteristics in the policy implementations and interests. To take this difference into consideration, all types of the ODCs would need to implement the policies for promotion of organic agriculture in future. The results showed the rural-urban difference at the ODCs in the policy tendency through the financial support for certifications, education, and organizing a marché. Further policy supports, such as accumulation of market information, mutual-learning among ODCs, and the information on the policy effect on the environment, economy, and society, can potentially support efficiency of policy. The general low policy interests among the ODCs could be improved by emphasizing the needs of locally sensitive policy with the effective participation of concerned farmers and other stakeholders including consumers.

  Dec. 2020, Organic Agriculture, 10(4) (4), 497 - 508

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Access and use of green areas during the covid-19 pandemic: Green infrastructure management in the “new normal”

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  This study aims to identify the influence of the socioeconomic attributes and environmental contexts of citizens’ residential areas on the access and use of green areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results can aid policymaking and facilitate the safe and unrestricted use of green areas during the pandemic. The access and use of green areas were analyzed using a survey conducted after the official COVID-19 emergency in Japan (16 April to 14 May, 2020). Visits to green areas during the pandemic have gained salience globally from multiple perspectives: health, planning, social justice, and equity. The results of this study demonstrated that socioeconomic factors influenced the frequency of visiting green areas. The factors further influenced the use of the three categories of green areas (parks, agricultural lands, and gardens). Environmental contexts, including the land use patterns in residential areas, also influenced the use of specific types of green areas. Thus, policies need to further facilitate visits to green areas by reflecting the socioeconomic attributes of residents and their households, including income, number of children, gender, and age, incorporating those who have less access and considering the spread of COVID-19 locally. Furthermore, policies for the use of specific green areas, including parks, agricultural lands, and gardens, need to take cognizance of the residents’ environmental contexts. Management of specific green areas, like agricultural lands, is required, and residents should be provided with opportunities to use these areas with measures to avoid infection.

  Dec. 2020, Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(23) (23), 1 - 9

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Private forest landowners’ awareness of forest boundaries: case study in Japan

  Shuichiro Kajima, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  We explore Japanese forest landowners’ characteristics that affect the awareness of the boundaries of their forest lands. Such information can serve as foundational forest management information that will be used in decision making by future generations. We focus on the owners’ awareness of the forest boundaries and examine its relationship with the owners’ characteristics. This is one of the first studies covering all forest landowners and their awareness at the municipal level in Japan, focusing on a municipality’s forest landowners. The results of this study suggest that forest landowners who are young, women, non-members of forest landowners’ co-operative associations, and absent from the municipality tend to be unaware of their forests’ boundary lines, location, and land area.

  Informa {UK} Limited, Sep. 2020, Journal of Forest Research, 25(5) (5), 299 - 307

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• A meta-analysis of shrinking cities in Europe and Japan. Towards an integrative research agenda

  Stefanie Döringer, Yuta Uchiyama, Marianne Penker, Ryo Kohsaka

  Empirical research on urban shrinkage is being conducted around the globe, since many countries are confronted with the phenomenon of shrinking cities. So far, the research on urban shrinkage has focused strongly on case studies, which is why we can benefit from a diverse and empirically rich knowledge base on the phenomenon and its regional manifestations. By bridging and comparing the European and Japanese academic discourse, we aim to identify the different recurring theories and key issues discussed under the umbrella term ‘urban shrinkage’ and strive to uncover blind spots of the debate. For this purpose, we conduct a qualitative meta-analysis of 100 empirical cases that are documented in the literature dealing with shrinking cities in the EU and Japan. This meta-analysis is based on comparative qualitative content analysis. It reveals a regionally differentiated pattern of various causes, effects and responses documented for shrinking cities in Western, Mediterranean and post-socialist EU countries and in Japan. Based on these findings, we offer an agenda for future research by suggesting an integrative perspective on the context-specific dynamics of urban shrinkage. We argue for an integrative understanding of shrinking cities in order to develop a valid knowledge base for evidence-based policy recommendations.

  Sep. 2020, European Planning Studies, 28(9) (9), 1693 - 1712

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Perceptions of the seagrass ecosystems for the local communities of Eastern Samar, Philippines: Preliminary results and prospects of blue carbon services

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  © 2020 Elsevier Ltd Coastal communities, knowingly or otherwise, rely on seagrasses for their livelihood, recreation and food source, among other services. However, despite its importance, seagrasses are not receiving similar attentions with its adjacent ecosystems, the mangroves, and coral reefs. Because of their role in climate change mitigation, seagrasses along with mangroves and salt marshes (the blue carbon ecosystems) are gaining attention recently. This preliminary study investigates the perception of coastal communities in Eastern Samar, Philippines on seagrasses. The results of the survey show that there is a level of high awareness among respondents to seagrass ecosystem services. Despite that, however, utilization remains low. The level of awareness varies on the type of ecosystem service; for instance, locals have a high awareness of provisioning services while low awareness of cultural services. The survey also included the perceived threats to seagrasses, where damages caused by natural disturbances are identified as the most concerning threat. This may be due to the geographic location of the sites that are frequented by typhoons. The perception potentially indicates depleted resources brought about by mismanagement or overlooking this natural resource. The results provide a more contextualized understanding on how local communities are aware of and interacting with, or the lack thereof, seagrass ecosystems. This could aid local government units (LGUs) and conservation groups in the area to craft practicable and sustainable management plans and threat-specific solutions.

  Elsevier {BV}, Jun. 2020, Ocean and Coastal Management, 191, 105181 - 105181

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• An explorative analysis of landscape value perceptions of naturally dead and cut wood: a case study of visitors to Kaisho Forest, Aichi, Japan

  Barbara Kovács, Yuta Uchiyama, Yoshitaka Miyake, Marianne Penker, Ryo Kohsaka

  Diverse demands for contemporary forest management require greater consideration to cultural ecosystem services. Given the circumstances, understanding how forest elements are perceived can provide valuable information for park managers. Perceptions of visitors have been explored in current studies but research linking these elements with values remains limited. This study revisited perceptions of naturally dead wood compared to cut wood. We reexamined the scholary hypothesis that distinctions between naturally dead and cut wood are comparatively weak for Japanese people and further examined the values attached to any such distinctions. To test the suggested hypothesis, we explored landscape value perceptions of naturally dead and cut wood. In a case study of visitors to Kaisho Forest, Aichi, Japan, we administered a questionnaire that included a photograph evaluation approach. We performed a chi-square test and cluster analysis. The cluster analysis based on associated values from the images identified the naturally dead and obvious cut wood belong to two distinctive clusters. This study further revealed that cluster membership of cut wood depends on the degree of human intervention. Photographs of naturally dead wood and an overgrown humanly induced trunk from coppicing with relatively minor human intervention were associated with natural, spiritual, and aesthetic values. In contrast, fire wood - in the second cluster of cut wood - was associated with educational and productive values. An additional outcome of the chi-square test showed that women tended to assign more therapeutic values to forests and overgrown trunks in the forest than men.

  Informa {UK} Limited, Jun. 2020, Journal of Forest Research, 25(5) (5), 1 - 8, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• (2020) Utilization of forest environment transfer tax in ordinance-designated cities: Trend of urban forest policy and its diversity in Japan

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  The forest environment transfer tax was been introduced in 2019 and is expected to support and facilitate municipal-level forest policies. The revenue from the tax can be used to promote utilization of timber and wood products and education in cities. Although forestry is not a main industry and forest policies are not active in urban municipalities, cities need to make relevant policies and implement the policies using the tax revenue. In this earliest stage of the new tax scheme, it is necessary to monitor the status of policy making and the plan for the policy implementation to improve the tax scheme for sustainable forest management with urban and rural municipalities. To identify the influence of the new tax scheme on municipal forest policies and ordinance-designated cities policies which are implemented using the revenue of the forest environment transfer tax, a questionnaire survey was conducted. As results, policies of promotion of timber and wood product use were detected as major policies. Compared with the prefectural-level policy trend, more diverse trends were detected in the policies of the cities. As a preliminary analysis result of background of their diversity, it was revealed that promotion of forest accumulation plans tends to be prioritized in the cities with relatively large forest lands per capita. The detailed analysis of the relationships between characteristics of the cities and their policies will be conducted in future research.

  Japanese Forestry Society, Jun. 2020, Nihon Ringakkai Shi/Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society, 102(3) (3), 173 - 179, Japanese

  Scientific journal


• Intellectual Property Strategies for Timber and Forest Products: The Case of Regional Collective Trademark Applications by Japanese Forestry Associations

  Shuichiro Kajima, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  {MDPI} {AG}, Mar. 2020, Sustainability, 12(5) (5), 1988 - 1988

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Sustainable Development Utilizing Local Agricultural Resources: A Network Analysis of Interorganizational Collaborations in Tsuruoka, Noto, and Aso in Japan

  Sotaro Inoue, Noriko Ito, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Employing social network analysis, this study quantitatively compares interorganizational collaboration networks in Tsuruoka, Noto, and Aso in Japan. These networks apply innovative strategies and techniques to the use of local agricultural resources. The major findings of this study are the following: (1) Tsuruoka's and Noto's networks are characterized by relatively centralized structures. (2) Aso's network is characterized by a relatively decentralized structure. (3) Organizations that coordinate the various sectors and regions have played an important role in maintaining decentralized networks. Through comparison of the networks, we supply objective information useful for formulating structural change strategies induce sustainable development in Japan.

  The Agricultural Economics Society of Japan, Mar. 2020, Japanese Journal of Agricultural Economics, 22, 95 - 100, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Perceptions of local communities on mangrove forests, their services and management: implications for Eco-DRR and blue carbon management for Eastern Samar, Philippines

  Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  © 2019, © 2019 The Japanese Forest Society. The mangrove ecosystems which provide diverse benefits to local communities are vulnerable to natural and human-induced threats. Existing policies and decision-makers in the Philippines are gearing towards the integration of physical, ecological, and social elements in managing these ecosystems. To date, the linkage between the policies and the direct beneficiaries (i.e. coastal communities) of the ecosystem services is, however, largely unexplored from local perspectives applying quantitative methodology. Thus, we conducted household surveys to the coastal villagers in Eastern Samar. By doing so, we provide basic information for the scientists and policymakers on the following elements of one the blue carbon ecosystems, mangroves; (1) resource utilization, (2) level of awareness on ecosystem services and existing management plans, and (3) perceptions on natural and anthropogenic threats. Results of the survey show that the utilization of mangrove ecosystem services is influenced by social demography and level of awareness of the locals. The trends of the locals’ utilization and perceptions on the diverse ecosystem services may provide evidence for their active involvement in protecting these resources. To enable more holistic and sustainable management, this study suggests the value of including coastal communities in contextualizing management plans, particularly for the areas often visited by natural hazards.

  Informa {UK} Limited, Jan. 2020, Journal of Forest Research, 25(1) (1), 1 - 11

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Forest environment transfer tax and urban-rural collaboration: Case of Chichibu City and Toshima District in Japan

  Ryo Kohsaka, Taro Osawa, Yuta Uchiyama

  The year 2019 marked the first year of introducing the national forest environment transfer tax. The forest environment transfer tax scheme is mainly for the forest management in municipalities. Yet the forest areas in certain urban areas are limited and there is a room for urban-rural collaboration. In concrete terms, urban municipalities can receive relatively large revenue from the tax, because total population of municipalities is considered as one of the indicators to compute the amount of transferred tax for the municipalities. The urban municipalities can use the tax to facilitate the use of wood products, such as construction materials, and to conduct forest management in rural municipalities by implementing urban-rural collaboration. As a case of the urban-rural collaboration, collaboration between Toshima District and Chichibu City was analyzed and their process of collaboration and status of sharing human resources in Chichibu City and Saitama Prefecture were identified. Toshima District and Chichibu City have long-term experience of collaboration as sister municipalities. Chichibu City is conducting regional collaboration with surrounding municipalities on forest managements. These are the contexts of facilitating Toshima and Chichibu's urban-rural collaboration.

  Nihon Ringakkai, 2020, Nihon Ringakkai Shi/Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society, 102(2) (2), 127 - 132, Japanese

  Scientific journal


• Utilization of Forest Environment Transfer Tax in Ordinance-Designated Cities: Trend of Urban Forest Policy and Its Diversity in Japan

  内山愉太, 香坂玲

  2020, 日本森林学会誌, 102(3) (3)

  [Refereed]


• Linkage Structure of Diverse Social Organizations in Rural Promotion Activity -A Social Network Analysis of Tsuruoka City

  Sotaro INOUE, Noriko ITO, Katsuya TAKAHASHI, Yoko ICHIKAWA, Ryo KOHSAKA, Yuta UCHIYAMA

  The Farm Management Society of Japan, Jan. 2020, Japanese Journal of Farm Management, 57(4) (4), 19 - 24, Japanese

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Potential Benefits and Impacts on Forests and Livelihoods

  Patrick Schröder, Alexander S. Antonarakis, Jana Brauer, Abu Conteh, Ryo Kohsaka, Yuta Uchiyama, Pablo Pacheco

  Cambridge University Press, Dec. 2019, Sustainable Development Goals: Their Impacts on Forests and People, 386

  [Refereed]


• Indonesia Provincial Spatial Plans on mangroves in era of decentralization: Application of content analysis to 27 provinces and “blue carbon” as overlooked components

  Kevin Muhamad Lukman, Jay Mar D. Quevedo, Kaoru Kakinuma, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  © 2019, © 2019 The Japanese Forest Society. The salience of mangroves as carbon sinks are being increasingly recognized in terms of “blue carbon.” Their significance at provincial level is critical in the era of decentralization after the reformation period. This study applied a content analysis to 27 Provincial Spatial Plans in Indonesia. The results were categorized into nine clusters. The findings indicated that the cluster prohibited activity was the most frequently mentioned in the context of management and utilization across provinces. This was followed by mangrove’s potential to be utilized as tourism and educational sites, while the aspect of “blue carbon” was largely overlooked. The results indicated the usefulness of Provincial Spatial Plans as a benchmark for the priorities and awareness of lower-level governments concerning mangroves.

  Informa {UK} Limited, Nov. 2019, Journal of Forest Research, 24(6) (6), 341 - 348

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Application of the City Biodiversity Index to populated cities in Japan: Influence of the social and ecological characteristics on indicator-based management

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  © 2019 Elsevier Ltd For sustainability of a region, a holistic view is necessary to understand its dynamics and the conditions surrounding cities and beyond. Conservation activity indicators can be instrumental in this context, yet they can be simultaneously counterproductive in areas where intra-city sectionalisms exist. With regard to urban biodiversity, Singapore proposed an index to evaluate the biodiversity, ecosystem services, and governance specific for the cities. The index, known also as “City Biodiversity Index,” is currently applied worldwide. We analyzed the relationships between local biodiversity management in twenty populated cities in Japan and their social and ecological characteristics in order to identify the characteristics necessary for the smooth functioning of indicator-based management practices. As a result, cities with high percentages of built-up areas (with limited natural resources) tended to implement quantitative evaluations for biodiversity, although most of the twenty analyzed cities conducted participatory monitoring with stakeholder involvement. Furthermore, we identified that collaborations among different government sectors can be linked to certain ecological conditions; municipalities with relatively large amounts of forest land per capita (with many natural resources) tend to implement collaborations. Our findings suggest that indicator-based monitoring and management practices conducted through collaborations among different sectors are common challenges in municipal biodiversity management. Using the indicators could promote dealing with these challenges and contribute toward maintaining biodiversity in a wider range of regions.

  Nov. 2019, Ecological Indicators, 106

  [Refereed]


• Biomimetics for business? Industry perceptions and patent application

  Ryo Kohsaka, Yoshinori Fujihira, Yuta Uchiyama

  © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: Biomimetics are expected to contribute to sustainable environmental management; however, there has been no exploration of industry perceptions by using empirical data. This study aims to identify the trends and perceptions of biomimetics. The industrial sectors in Japan and international patent application trends are analyzed. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey to identify the perceptions of staff members in Japanese private companies (n = 276) was conducted. Japan is an emerging country in terms of the social implementation of biomimetics, and this paper can provide insights into other such countries. Findings: It is identified that the strength of connections to biomimetics differs across industrial sectors. The respondents from companies that use nanoscale biomimetics tend to have the knowledge of, and experience in, biomimetics. Regarding the overall understanding of patent applications, Japanese private company employees require knowledge of patent application trends and country rankings as potential factors influencing the development of biomimetics. Social implications: Knowledge transfer and sharing of experience among engineers and researchers of nanoscale technologies and urban scales are necessary to facilitate biomimetic advancement. Originality/value: The results of the first survey and an analysis of the perceptions of staff members in private companies in Japan are provided to show the challenges in the social implementation of biomimetics. The results can be referred to for the social implementation of biomimetics in emerging countries. The method of this study can be applied to an international comparative analysis in future research.

  Emerald, Oct. 2019, Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 10(3) (3), 597 - 616, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Geographical Indications and Regional Trade Agreements: Facilitating International Partnerships for Sustainable Development

  Ryo Kohsaka, Yuta Uchiyama

  Springer International Publishing, May 2019, Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, 1

  [Refereed]


• Impact of Geographical Indication schemes on traditional knowledge in changing agricultural landscapes: An empirical analysis from Japan

  Ai Tashiro, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  © 2019 A Geographical Indication (GI) is expected to facilitate agri-environmental management in agricultural landscapes. Currently, local products from small-scale farms and national branded products with a relatively large scale of production are being registered using GI schemes. Considering the relationships among GI products, their agricultural landscapes, and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), as a GI case study, we examined small GI farms in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, Japan, which produce edible plants called Tonburi. This research explored the complex cause-effect relationship between TEK and landscapes and found that the TEK of Tonburi production influenced biological diversity and vice versa. The TEK and skills of small farmers were confined to the family members of each farmer and were not shared at the community level until GI registration. However, the farmers shared their TEK of sustainable agricultural landscape management through the process of GI registration. Through negotiation between local agricultural cooperatives and farmers, TEK was provided as a form of cultural capital and shared with new producers after GI registration. We concluded that enclosed TEK negatively affects production maintenance and landscape management in the long term. However, the GI registration process contributes to the sharing of TEK as a form of cultural capital among Tonburi farmers.

  May 2019, Journal of Rural Studies, 68, 46 - 53

  [Refereed]


• Regional management and biodiversity conservation in GIAHS: text analysis of municipal strategy and tourism management

  Kohsaka Ryo, Matsuoka Hikaru, Uchiyama Yuta, Rogel Marie

  Jan. 2019, ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY, 5(1) (1), 124 - 132

  [Refereed]


• Loss of traditional knowledge and innovation in the context of shrinking communities and depopulation

  Ryo KOHSAKA, Yuta UCHIYAMA, Ai TASHIRO

  Dec. 2018, Jpn J Health & Human Ecology, 84(6) (6), 214 - 223, Japanese

  [Refereed][Invited]


• Sustainable Tourism Managements with Regional Designations and Geographical Indications: Experience from Rural Areas in Japan

  R Kohsaka, Y Uchiyama, A Tashiro, MS Park

  Jun. 2018, The 86th TOSOK Daejeon International Tourism Conference Paper, 83, 542 - 545, English

  [Refereed]

  International conference proceedings


• Management Technology for Ecosystem Services : Social Implementation of Biomimetics

  内山 愉太, 藤平 祥孝, 香坂 玲

  小峰工業出版, Jun. 2018, 化學工業, 69(6) (6), 414 - 418, Japanese


• Marine Circular Economy towards Post-Disaster Reconstruction for Sustainability: Experiences in a Small Coastal Town of Northeast Japan

  Tashiro,A, Uchiyama,Y, Kohsaka,R

  May 2018, European Journal of Sustainable Development, 7(3) (3), 81 - 89, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Geographic Information Space for Public Space

  内山 愉太

  季報「唯物論研究」刊行会, May 2018, 季報唯物論研究, (143) (143), 98 - 106, Japanese


• Review of Reports Related to Environmental Burden by Japanese Enterprises; Analysis of Integrated Sustainability Reports

  久慈 淳一郎, 内山 愉太, 松岡 光, 香坂 玲

  久留米大学ビジネス研究所, Mar. 2018, 久留米大学ビジネス研究 = Kurume University business research review, 3, 45 - 64, Japanese


• Internal processes of Geographical Indication and their effects: an evaluation framework for geographical indication applicants in Japan

  Ai Tashiro, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  © 2018 Korea Food Research Institute Background: The internal processes of geographical indications (GIs) by the applicants in rural specific regions primarily remain unexplored, although GIs can facilitate retention of long-term accumulated traditional knowledge in ethnic foods. This article sheds light on (1) analysis of phase-wise internal processes of GI registration and (2) examine relationships between the duration of application and perceived effects of GI registration in Northwestern Japan. GI in Japan is a comparatively a new system introduced in 2015. Methods: This article applied thematic analysis. The criteria for evaluating the gap of GI registration effects among the seven GI cases were descriptive and analytical with the information and data coming from official documents, questionnaire survey, and personal communications with key informants of the GI applicants. Qualitative information with quantitative data was also applied to visualize the complex internal GI registration processes and their effects. Results: This article identified that GI applicants who took a relatively long time to complete GI registration tended to perceive the relatively weak registration effects. Alternatively, GI applicants who took a relatively short time to complete their GI registration tended to evaluate the effects of the registration highly. For the preparation process, the most difficult phases for applications were drafting the application documents and long-term communication with a GI regulator. Conclusion: This article provides insights on the methods to uncover the complex, both ex-ante and ex-post, GI registration processes to reorganize current members of GI applicants and to fill the gaps and enhance the effects of GI registration.

  Jan. 2018, Journal of Ethnic Foods

  [Refereed]


• Geographical Indications in Agriculture and Forestry Sectors : Spatio-temporal Multilayers of Products and Institutions

  香坂 玲, 梶間 周一郎, 田代 藍, 内山 愉太

  日本知財学会, 2018, 日本知財学会誌, 15(1) (1), 4 - 10, Japanese


• International Trends of Applications of City Biodiversity Index

  香坂 玲, 内山 愉太

  日本造園学会, Jan. 2018, ランドスケープ研究 : 日本造園学会誌 : journal of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture, 81(4) (4), 336 - 339, Japanese


• Apiculture knowledge transmission in a changing world: Can family-owned knowledge be opened?

  Yuta Uchiyama, Hikaru Matsuoka, Ryo Kohsaka

  Background: Ecosystem services of pollinators have been gaining importance, as mentioned in the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services thematic report on pollination in 2016. Apart from wild bees, human interventions including apiculture can contribute to management of ecosystem services. Ecological and local knowledge of management is transmitted through various processes, varying in content and quality. Methods: We analyzed the processes of knowledge transmission, beekeeping productivity, and their interactions with each other. The study was conducted in the Nagano Prefecture, Japan, where the largest quantity of bee honey is produced nationally. Beekeeping knowledge in Nagano is transmitted through different information channels, including families, friends, and books. We categorized the beekeepers based on their information channels. The relationship between productivity of beekeeping and information channels was also analyzed. Results: It was identified that beekeepers who obtained their knowledge from their parents had relatively large number of bee colonies. Furthermore, we observed by interviews with them that they tended to understand the importance of ecological conditions for sustainable beekeeping. Conclusion: The results implied a challenge to open the knowledge transmission channels beyond families, potentially transforming the knowledge from tacit knowledge among limited members to an explicit manualized knowledge in an aging society.

  Elsevier B.V., Dec. 2017, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 4(4) (4), 262 - 267, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Public Perception and Expectations of Biomimetics Technology: Empirical Survey of Museum Visitors in Japan

  Kohsaka Ryo, Fujihira Yoshinori, Uchiyama Yuta, Kajima Shuichiro, Nomura Shuhei, Ebinger Frank

  Oct. 2017, CURATOR-THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, 60(4) (4), 427 - 444

  [Refereed]


• Tradition and Japanese vegetables: history, locality, geography, and discursive ambiguity

  Yuta Uchiyama, Yoshinori Fujihira, Hikaru Matsuoka, Ryo Kohsaka

  Background Traditional vegetables are produced and consumed throughout Japan. Individual vegetables, including Kyo vegetables and Kaga vegetables, are individually defined with their own criteria for history and quality standards and are registered in their respective regions. Several traditional vegetables are utilized as symbols of regional revitalization. For example, Kaga vegetables are tourist attractions, and Noto vegetables are promoted in the Noto region and were registered under the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Methods We will review the distribution, public standards, and definitions of dento-yasai, traditional Japanese vegetables. Quantitative analysis on the status of the branding of traditional vegetables will be conducted. Results First, the ambiguity and distribution of traditional vegetables are demonstrated. Next, as a case study, the results of a quantitative analysis of Kaga vegetables and Noto vegetables are provided. Kaga vegetables have their own quality standards and definition, and producers have acknowledged the positive impact of the regional certification, GIAHS, on the amount sold. However, a social conflict has been caused by their standards and definition. On the other hand, Noto vegetables do not have a strict quality standard, and they were registered relatively recently. Because of their comparatively lax standard, producers could not acknowledge the positive impacts of GIAHS certification. Conclusion Origins of traditional Japanese vegetables and relationships with their regions have innumerable ambiguous points. The results of the analysis of two types of traditional vegetables show that quality standards and definitions strongly influence branding and brand management.

  Elsevier B.V., Sep. 2017, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 4(3) (3), 198 - 203, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Methods for specifying spatial boundaries of cities in the world: The impacts of delineation methods on city sustainability indices

  Yuta Uchiyama, Koichiro Mori

  The purpose of this paper is to analyze how different definitions and methods for delineating the spatial boundaries of cities have an impact on the values of city sustainability indicators. It is necessary to distinguish the inside of cities fromt he outside when calculating the values of sustainability indicators that assess the impacts of human activities within cities on areas beyond their boundaries. For this purpose, spatial boundaries of cities should be practically detected on the basis of a relevant definition of a city. Although no definition of a city is commonly shared among academic fields, three practical methods for identifying urban areas are available in remote sensing science. Those practical methods are based on population density, landcover, and night-time lights. These methods are correlated, but non-negligible differences exist in their determination of urban extents and urban population. Furthermore, critical and statistically significant differences in some urban environmental sustainability indicators result from the three different urban detection methods. For example, the average values of CO2 emissions per capita and PM10 concentration in citieswithmore than 1 million residents are significantly different among the definitions. When analyzing city sustainability indicators and disseminating the implication of the results, the values based on the different definitions should be simultaneously investigated. It is necessary to carefully choose a relevant definition to analyze sustainability indicators for policymaking. Otherwise, ineffective and inefficient policies will be developed. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, Aug. 2017, SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 592, 345 - 356, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Beekeeping and honey production in Japan and South Korea: past and present

  Ryo Kohsaka, Mi Sun Park, Yuta Uchiyama

  Background Bee honey is a main ingredient in traditional food culture in different regions of the world. Honey is widely utilized as an ethnic food item. Methods This paper analyzes the historical and present status of beekeeping and honey production in Japan and South Korea based on the relevant literature and statistical data. Results The findings reveal that Western honeybees are dominant in the two countries for economic and physical reasons. Honey production has declined and the amount of imported honey has increased in Japan and South Korea. The domestic and global honey markets closely influence reciprocally. Furthermore, urban beekeeping has emerged in these two countries as a hobby and an industry it contributes to producing domestic honey and enhances the quality of the environment. Conclusion To ensure sustainable forestry and conserve biodiversity, native beekeeping is necessary. This paper provides insight into beekeeping and honey production in Japan and South Korea.

  Elsevier B.V., Jun. 2017, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 4(2) (2), 72 - 79, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Expectations of residents and tourists of agriculture-related certification systems: analysis of public perceptions

  Yuta Uchiyama, Yushi Tanaka, Hikaru Matsuoka, Ryo Kohsaka

  Background To reveal the level of recognition of regional and product certifications related to agriculture, an analysis of the official minutes of assemblies and the perceptions of tourists was conducted. This is one of the first attempts to combine analysis of residents and tourists at the product level (Geographical Indications, trademarks) and landscape level (registration under Food and Agricultural Organization [FAO] or United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]-related certification systems). Methods The research sites were Itoigawa and Sado, two municipalities in Niigata prefecture. The former is certified as a Global Geopark, and the latter as a National Geopark and Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). The text-mining approach was conducted to analyze the official minutes of the municipal assemblies, and the questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the recognition of tourists on the certifications. Results The results of the analysis of assemblies and tourists provide issues and possibilities of the certification systems. Tourists' recognition of the GIAHS and its weighting in the assemblies are relatively low. Residents and tourists have different expectations for regional certification. Residents expect education, while tourists expect tourism. Conclusion It is necessary to evaluate the GIAHS's contribution to tourism and industry when municipalities and international organizations manage the GIAHS sites. Considering the gaps between residents and tourists and taking measures to resolve them can contribute to managing certificated areas by collaboration of stakeholders. Regarding products aimed at branding, consumers need to be informed about the GIAHS as a regional certification in addition to product certification to share the historical and environmental characteristics of agricultural products.

  Elsevier B.V., Jun. 2017, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 4(2) (2), 110 - 117, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Japanese sake and tea as place-based products: a comparison of regional certifications of globally important agricultural heritage systems, geopark, biosphere reserves, and geographical indication at product level certification

  Shuichiro Kajima, Yushi Tanaka, Yuta Uchiyama

  Background This study analyzed certifications at the regional/landscape level and at product level. We focused on Japanese sake and tea as local place-based luxury items related to ethnic foods and socio-ecological landscape. Methods Specifically, this research analyzed two materials: the minutes of local assemblies (both sake and tea) and sales-promotion pamphlet (of a sake brewery). The quantitative approach of text mining was experimentally applied to the two materials. The cases of both sake (Hakusan City) and tea (Kakegawa City) were selected from areas designated with three certifications Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Biosphere Reserves (BR) under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), and Geopark. The sake of Hakusan City is the product with geographical indication (GI), of the Hakusan Kikusake. Results As the product level certification, the GI of sake is used in the context of a promotional tool both at the municipality assembly and sake brewery dimension. Alternatively, regional certifications (Geopark and BR) are utilized with limited extent for sake promotion in Hakusan City. The regional certification of the GIAHS is utilized in context of promoting Japanese tea in Kakegawa City. The product is not registered as the GI, and this may have influenced the use of the GI. Conclusion These results imply that the place-based character remains at product level certification and is rather limited at landscape level. The product level certificate or the GI are used more frequently in the promotion of the place-based products than regional certifications. In order to further establish the placeness of the regions, certifications of landscape level need to be harmonized with the products that are produced in the landscape, using methods of place branding or story-telling.

  Elsevier B.V., Jun. 2017, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 4(2) (2), 80 - 87, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Do historical production practices and culinary heritages really matter? Food with protected geographical indications in Japan and Austria

  Katharina Gugerell, Yuta Uchiyama, Pia R. Kieninger, Marianne Penker, Shuichiro Kajima, Ryo Kohsaka

  Background Geographical indications (GIs) are collective intellectual property rights that protect food and other products uniquely linked to the production area, local geophysical conditions, and traditions, namely, with the terroir. Thus, GIs can contribute to the transmission and retention of culinary heritages and historical production practices. Methods Based on an analysis of application documents, we compare the historical linkages of all the Japanese and Austrian GI products. Although more than half of the Japanese applications refer to historical roots in the 20th century, the median of the Austrian GI linkages is in the 17th century. To closely examine these GI linkages, and to better understand their relevance to current cultivation practices, we compared three Japanese cases with roots of diverging depth to the first Austrian GI regarding motivations, geographical and historical linkages, and current cultivation practices and governance. Results The comparison found that all four products refer to the historical roots of the product name, the product varieties, or cultivation techniques. However, deeper roots did not automatically translate into higher priorities of protecting these historical linkages. The four in-depth case studies found that historic provenance and traditional production methods, although prominently highlighted in the official GI documents of all four GIs, were eclipsed by commercial motivations for GI protection and/or current production practices. In the cases analyzed, we found some potential mismatches between GI historical claims in registration documents and actual GI cultivation and GI management practices. Conclusions We conclude that our four GI cases do not represent “museums of production” or overly fixed perceptions of history. However, the collective action of the producer group has resulted in dynamic local cultivation practices without restricting innovation. The GI status has rather resulted in the protection of local farmers' collective action and old varieties than in the protection of old production methods.

  Elsevier B.V., Jun. 2017, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 4(2) (2), 118 - 125, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Public recognition of traditional vegetables at the municipal level: Implications for transgenerational knowledge transmission

  Yuta Uchiyama, Hikaru Matsuoka, Ryo Kohsaka

  Background In this paper, recognition of traditional agricultural products by the general public is presented and analyzed to explore the transgenerational aspects of traditional vegetables and their knowledge transfer. It is necessary to understand how the products are recognized by different generations and gender, in terms of retaining and branding the local products. Methods A questionnaire survey with random sampling was conducted to identify the recognition of traditional vegetables including the Kaga and Noto vegetables in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. By understanding the degree of recognition, elaborating strategic plans for retention of traditional agricultural products and effective promotion of the products can be implemented. Results The results from 149 respondents indicate that there are differences of recognition depending on their gender or age. In particular, young people obtain information on traditional vegetables mainly from TV, whereas older people gain information from newspapers. Furthermore, more than half of the Kaga vegetables are better recognized among the older generation. Conclusion The analysis of this paper serves as the basis to capture the cultural importance, or to develop branding strategy as the results clarify the degree of recognition of residents and tourists from various generations. As the population has been aging, transmitting knowledge about the products to young people who have less knowledge is the urgent issue.

  Elsevier B.V., Jun. 2017, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 4(2) (2), 94 - 102, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• 都市の生物多様性指標をめぐる国内外の最新事情

  香坂玲, 内山愉太

  May 2017, 都市緑化技術, (103) (103), 2 - 5, English


• Shifting paradigms in ecosystem based approach : An case of forest fi re history in United States and the science policy interface of them

  Huntsinger Lynn, Mori Akira

  We review the paradigm shifts from an expert-led planning approach to a moreadaptive and"open"process symbolized in the term"ecosystem approach"or"ecosystembasedapproach". This paradigm shift was caused in circumstances that expert-ledplanning did not perform effi ciently and various environmental problems were diffi cult tosolve without more open and adoptive approach. Yet， ecosystem approach has not beenestablished. For example， issues including participation of stakeholders remain. Role andsignifi cance of science policy interface was overlooked in the era of expert-led planning.It is necessary to elaborate the appropriate interface that make eff ective participationof stakeholders be possible. In this paper， the shift is illustrated and analyzed with theexample of historic perspective of the US forest fires. Implications for policy makingare drawn from the case how participatory approach can be accommodated with thescientific rigor. This historical analysis reveals that the current forests with frequentforest fires and strong drought stress in the US were formed in the contexts of theforest reserves mainly from early 20th century and the environmentalism includingprejudice on the pre-modern environmental managements. In recent years， synergies ofthe diff erent types of knowledges including traditional and indigenous knowledges areexplored. In this context， development of the methods for reflecting voices of variousstakeholders with those knowledges to environmental managements， and the methods toelaborate trust among the stakeholders are urgent issues.

  久留米大学ビジネス研究所, Mar. 2017, 久留米大学ビジネス研究 = Kurume University business research review, 2, 75 - 89, English


• "Status and trends of payment for ecosystem services in Japan:Application to forest, and agricultural lands"

  Shouta Kimoto

  久留米大学ビジネス研究所, Mar. 2017, 久留米大学ビジネス研究 = Kurume University business research review, 2, 51 - 60, Japanese


• Forest management motivations at local municipality level : Statistical difference between residential and non-residential owners

  Shuichiro Kajima

  久留米大学ビジネス研究所, Mar. 2017, 久留米大学ビジネス研究 = Kurume University business research review, 2, 61 - 74, Japanese


• Introducing wood log boilers in spa facilities: Impacts of small scale heat utilizations of woody biomass on regions of Japan

  Soichiro Kaze, Shuichiro Kajima, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  In recent years, wood log boilers have been introduced to hot water bathing facilities or spas in Japan, particularly in mountainous areas. Producing wood logs is relatively easy, on the other hand, input of wood logs into the boilers has to be done manually, and it is pointed out that wood log boilers are not efficient if they are used as facilities generating over 100 kW. In this context, the cases discussed in academic papers are limited to small scale ones. In this paper, the analysis of two cases of boilers generating over 100 kW are examined to verify potentials of the large scale facilities with wood logs. It reveals that (1) operating costs are reduced compared with the system using kerosene, and substitution rates are over 70% (2) manual input of wood logs was a certain load on the boiler users (3) impacts on the managements, such as rise of labor costs caused by the manual input of wood log, were not seen and (4) wood log systems can potentially reduce the loads on the facilities depending on heat supply systems.

  Nihon Ringakkai, 2017, Nihon Ringakkai Shi/Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society, 99(1) (1), 18 - 23, Japanese

  Scientific journal


• 能登半島の事例にみる農具の再利用とストック～静的な「遺物」から動的な「生きた遺産」へ～

  川邊咲子, 香坂玲, 松岡光, 内山愉太

  2017, エコミュージアム研究, (21) (21), 40 - 48, Japanese

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Introducing Wood Log Boilers in Spa Facilities:

  Kaze Soichiro, Kajima Shuichiro, Uchiyama Yuta, Kohsaka Ryo

  <p>In recent years, wood log boilers have been introduced to hot water bathing facilities or spas in Japan, particularly in mountainous areas. Producing wood logs is relatively easy, on the other hand, input of wood logs into the boilers has to be done manually, and it is pointed out that wood log boilers are not efficient if they are used as facilities generating over 100 kW. In this context, the cases discussed in academic papers are limited to small scale ones. In this paper, the analysis of two cases of boilers generating over 100 kW are examined to verify potentials of the large scale facilities with wood logs. It reveals that (1) operating costs are reduced compared with the system using kerosene, and substitution rates are over 70％ (2) manual input of wood logs was a certain load on the boiler users; (3) impacts on the managements, such as rise of labor costs caused by the manual input of wood log, were not seen and (4) wood log systems can potentially reduce the loads on the facilities depending on heat supply systems.</p>

  The Japanese Forest Society = 日本森林学会, 2017, Journal of the Japanese Forest Society, 99(1) (1), 18 - 23, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• Development of City Sustainability Index (CSI)

  Yamashita Tsuguta, Hayashi Kengo, Mori Koichiro, Uchiyama Yuta, Fujii Toyonobu

  This paper provides a framework of City Sustainability Index (CSI) which allows us to compare and evaluate the performance of different cities in terms of global sustainability. Based on a comparative review of existing indicators for assessing the sustainability of cities and their historical background, we will consider why it is necessary to: 1) assess the sustainability of cities based on the concept of "strong sustainability"; 2) differentiate absolute and relative indicators within the evaluation process; 3) incorporate leakage effect of cities. CSI enables us to assess and compare the sustainability of cities by using two types of indicators, constraint and maximization indicators.

  公益社団法人 日本都市計画学会, 2017, Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan, 52(1) (1), 63 - 71, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• Impacts and Challenges of Introducing Wood Log Boilers to Rural Areas

  KAZE Soichiro, KAJIMA Shuichiro, UCHIYAMA Yuta, KOHSAKA Ryo

  In recent years, wood log boilers are introduced to provide heat or heated water for communities in municipalities in mountainous areas of Japan. In this research, the impact of introducing the wood log boiler to the region is analyzed and evaluated from holistic perspective. It reveals that the impact is positive in cases where the purposes are environmental conservation, promotion of energy autonomy or revitalization of the forestry. On the other hand, the system depends on temporary employment. As an overall evaluation, it is concluded that the introduction of wood log boilers are appropriate for the non-profit organizations and municipalities with public purposes at this stage.

  林業経済学会, 2017, Journal of Forest Economics, 63(3) (3), 74 - 81, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• The governance of geographical indications Experiences of practical implementation of selected case studies in Austria, Italy, Greece and Japan

  Thanasis Kizos, Ryo Koshaka, Marianne Penker, Cinzia Piatti, Christian Reinhard Vogl, Yuta Uchiyama

  Purpose - Place-based foodstuffs have gained salience in markets worldwide and geographical indication (GI) products are prominent examples. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the governance (formal and informal institutions) of the European and Japanese GI schemes, discuss the variety of procedures of implementing the features of the governance system (inclusion and exclusion of actors) for six GI cases and reflect on future GI governance. Design/methodology/approach - The criteria for assessing the six cases were descriptive and analytical and the information and data come from official documents, literature (scientific and "grey"), interviews, observations and personal communications with key-informants of the GI systems. Three of the cases are categorized as "failures" and are included to provide more insights on the diverse dynamics of GI systems. Findings - Registration of GIs seems to be a process rather than a single step, requesting coordination and consensus and an interplay between internal and external actors. "Success" and "failure" are relative and related to self-governance processes and the openness of the social system of the GI to establish transparency on inclusion and exclusion. GI systems require constant management and re-definition of production quality or geographical boundaries to adapt to market, climate or technological change. Originality/value - The paper introduces GI systems categorized as "failures" (either products that did not register as GIs in the end or did register but failed to keep the registration) which provides more insights on how to design and manage complex GI systems.

  EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD, 2017, BRITISH FOOD JOURNAL, 119(12) (12), 2863 - 2879, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Spatio-temporal Analysis of Biodiversity, Land-use Mix and Human Population in a Socio-ecological Production Landscape: A Case Study in the Hokuriku Region, Japan

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  In the development of City Biodiversity Index (CBI) database, it was necessary to overcome technical challenges, including the collection of information for biological indicators. To overcome the lack of data, methods to utilize land-use data have been developed. For example, distribution and abundance of species correlate with the degree of land-use mix. The research site, the Hokuriku region of Japan, has a developed Satoyama, a socio-ecological production landscape based on mixed land use. A part of the region, Noto, has been designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) site in 2011 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). We found it is necessary to consider the biological type in order to refer to land-use mix as an indicator of biodiversity because the diversity of some species had a negative correlation with degree of land-use mix. We also determined that some species were correlated with land use changes over time. By applying the methods developed in this study to other Monsoon Asian regions with rapid population increases, it might be possible to develop a database as a platform for sharing the findings and knowledge to implement the conservation of biodiversity under changing conditions of land use and human population size.

  Elsevier Ltd, 2017, Procedia Engineering, 198, 219 - 226, English

  [Refereed]

  International conference proceedings


• Motivation, Strategy and Challenges of Conserving Urban Biodiversity in Local Contexts: Cases of 12 Municipalities in Ishikawa, Japan

  Ryo Kohsaka, Yuta Uchiyama

  Capturing the status, trends, and relationships in biodiversity and urbanization is a multi-dimensional challenge for scientists and policy-makers alike. An indicator, the City Biodiversity Index (CBI), was developed as a self-assessment tool to measure trends in urban contexts in three spheres: biodiversity, ecosystems, and governance. Its primary focus is "green," but it further encompasses social and economic aspects to measure the sustainability of a city. The indicators can be used to visualize trends and translate scientific assessments into policy. Since 2008, 25 cities voluntarily applied the CBI. In Asia, Japan applied certain components of the CBI to 665 municipalities in 2016 in one of the first large-scale applications at national level. Regarding data visualization methods, the city of Helsinki, for example, has a website to visualize environmental information on biodiversity. The aim of this paper is to identify the practical and scientific challenges in conservation of biodiversity in medium to small cities based on a questionnaire survey. The research site is Ishikawa prefecture, which comprises municipalities in the target sizes. The survey shows that certain terms were difficult to understand conceptually, particularly "ecosystem services." The lack of monitoring and available datasets posed a number of difficulties for applying the index to the majority of cities. A method to evaluate biodiversity and ecosystem services has not yet been established. These technical difficulties are complicated with administrative and financial issues as well as human resources, issues shared by the municipalities. Based on our survey results, recommended activities are discussed.

  Elsevier Ltd, 2017, Procedia Engineering, 198, 212 - 218, English

  [Refereed]

  International conference proceedings


• Impacts and Issues of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

  香坂 玲, 内山 愉太

  農村計画学会, Dec. 2016, 農村計画学会誌 = Journal of rural planning, 35(3) (3), 361 - 364, Japanese


• A Study on the Introduction of Environmental Cooperative Tax in Okinawa Prefecture

  Shimoji Yoshiro, Uchiyama Yuta, Fujihira Yoshinori, Kohsaka Ryo, Kosaka Ryo, Matsumoto-Oda Akiko, Hirano Norio

  Three island villages in the Okinawa prefecture, Izena, Iheya and Tokashiki, have introduced "environmental cooperative tax" to obtain the budget to conserve the landscape as tourism resources and to maintain their tourism facilities. In this paper, the current trend and process of the introduction of the environmental cooperative tax are investigated by reviewing the existing survey and statistical information. Further, the socio-economic characteristics of the 3 villages are examined in order to explore the possibilities of the applying the taxation to the other island municipalities. Overall purpose of this study is to rethink the tourism tax in the whole Okinawa prefecture and explore future direction of the tourism management in the Okinawa in terms of the tourism tax system. The revenues from the tax are stable in Izena and Iheya, increasing in Tokashiki. Izena has introduced the tax in year 2005 earlier than other two villages. By the introducing the tax, environmental conservation activities have been facilitated by the revenues of the tax in Izena. As the indirect effects of the taxation, environmental management activities by the residents have been reinforced in Izena. The tax introduced by the villages has characteristics as environmental tax and tourist tax, because the tax is used for environmental conservation and imposed on the residents and tourists who come from the outside of the villages. The population amounts in the 3 villages are relatively small in the Okinawa. By examining the demographic and economic structures of the 3 villages and the other islands municipalities in the Okinawa, similarity and uniqueness of the islands municipalities are identified. Based on the results, several municipalities which may have potentials to introduce the environmental cooperative tax are detected. The taxation can be a tool for the tourism management in the Okinawa by appropriate gainsharing and synergistic collaboration among municipalities.

  琉球大学大学院観光科学研究科, Dec. 2016, 観光科学 = Journal of Tourism Sciences, 8, 1 - 13, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• Cognitive value of tourism resources and their relationship with accessibility: A case of Noto region, Japan

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  We analyzed cognitive values of the local residents by examining the correlation of the cognitive value and distances from the place of residence by respondents. The results are fromthe local residents who are frequently the main stakeholders for resource managements. The research site is Noto region in Ishikawa, Japan. We identified that tourism resources can be grouped into three categories: (i) the values of resources distributed along quadratic functions (U curve), (ii) those that decreased along negative linear functions, and (iii) those that did not have clear linear or nonlinear relationships between accessibility and their values. Moreover, impressions by residents in verbal terms were examined whether these impressions had correlation with the tourism resources. The typology and their linkage to impressions by residents in quantitative approaches provide us with unique perspectives for sustainable tourism management and destination management by combining of the different tourism resources. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, Jul. 2016, TOURISM MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES, 19, 61 - 68, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• The Influence of Affiliations with Agricultural Collectives on Attitudes of Fisherman towards Conservation and Perceptions of the Local Environment

  Kohsaka, R, Uchiyama, Y

  Jun. 2016, Journal of International Fisheries, 15, 1 - 21, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Capturing the relationships between local foods and residents: A case in the Noto region, Japan

  Ryo Kohsaka, Hikaru Matsuoka, Yuta Uchiyama

  Background Under the influence of global trends, most regions are at risk of losing their local-food knowledge. In this context, analyzing the transmission of the knowledge, understanding the context of transmission, and implementing precise activities and policies are required. Noto is known for its unique ethnic fermented food products. Methods Through our questionnaire survey and analysis of the Noto peninsula, we explore the relationships between the attributes of local food producers and the variety of foods they produce, attempting to identify the key attributes related to making diverse local foods and the transmission of local food knowledge. Results Our analysis showed a correlation between the diversity of local foods made by residents and the number of years they had lived in the municipality. Conclusion The results implied that adequate management of social networks by local residents, who depend on the local environment, is required in transmitting the knowledge of local foods.

  Elsevier B.V., Jun. 2016, Journal of Ethnic Foods, 3(2) (2), 86 - 92, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• 生物模倣技術に関する特許出願件数の変化および論文発表件数の一考察：日本、中国、米国、欧州を対象として

  香坂玲, 藤平祥孝, 内山愉太

  Mar. 2016, 久留米大学商学研究, 21(2) (2), 53 - 68, Japanese

  [Refereed]

  Research institution


• なぜ地域団体商標と地理的表示への申請をするのか：石川県能登地域における農産品の事例と林産品への示唆

  香坂玲, 内山愉太

  Mar. 2016, 久留米大学ビジネス研究所紀要, (1) (1), 1 - 14, Japanese

  Research institution


• Biomimetics Technologies as the Keys to Implement the Sustainable Society under the Environmental Limitations : Environmental Management and Engineering Neo-Biomimetics

  香坂 玲, 藤平 祥孝, 古川 柳蔵, 山内 健, 小林 秀敏, 石井 大佑, 内山 愉太

  日本工業新聞社, Mar. 2016, サスティナブルマネジメント = Sustainable management, 15, 98 - 112, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• Analysis on trend of patent application and academic paper publication related to Biomimetics : The trend in Japan, China, USA and Europe

  香坂 玲, 藤平 祥孝, 内山 愉太

  久留米大学商学会, Mar. 2016, 久留米大学商学研究, 21(2) (2), 95 - 110, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• Analysis of the Distribution of Forest Management Areas by the Forest Environmental Tax in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Forest management approaches vary according to the needs of individual municipalities with unique geographic conditions and local social contexts. Accordingly, there are two types of subsidies: a unified national subsidy and a prefecture-level subsidy, mainly from forest environmental taxes. The latter is a local tax. Our focus is on examining forest management using these two types of taxes (i.e., central and prefecture-level) and their correlations with social and natural environmental factors. In this paper, we examine the spatial distribution of management areas using subsidies from the central government, the Forestry Agency of Japan, and prefectural forest environmental taxes in Ishikawa. In concrete terms, the spatial correlations of the management areas under two tax schemes are compared with the natural hazard areas (as a natural environmental factor) and areas with high aging rates (as a social factor). The results are tested to see whether the correlations of areas with the two factors are significant, to examine whether the taxes are used for areas with natural and social needs. From the result, positive correlations are identified between the distribution of management areas and natural hazard areas and between the distribution of management areas and areas with high aging rates.

  Hindawi Limited, 2016, International Journal of Forestry Research, 2016, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Relationships of Patent Application and Academic Research in Biomimetics and Other Emerging Technology : Comparative Analysis of Trends in Japan, US and Europe

  藤平 祥孝, 内山 愉太, 香坂 玲

  日本知財学会, 2016, 日本知財学会誌, 13(2) (2), 18 - 22, Japanese


• Impacts and Issues of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

  KOHSAKA Ryo, UCHIYAMA Yuta

  農村計画学会, 2016, JOURNAL OF RURAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION, 35(3) (3), 361 - 364, Japanese


• Typology of Cities Based on City Biodiversity Index: Exploring Biodiversity Potentials and Possible Collaborations among Japanese Cities

  Yuta Uchiyama, Kengo Hayashi, Ryo Kohsaka

  A City Biodiversity Index (CBI) has been proposed and applied at the international level to enable local municipalities and cities to manage biodiversity and ecosystem services in a sustainable manner. CBI databases are being constructed as global platforms, though the available dataset is limited. The land-use dataset is one of the datasets that can be utilized to apply the CBI on the national level in countries including Japan. To demonstrate the importance and potential of the CBI under the limitation of the available dataset, we attempted to apply the CBI to the 791 Japanese cities by using available land-use indicators, and categorized the cities based on the indicators. The focus of the CBI is self-assessment, but we propose that grouping of cities with similar profiles is possible and can serve as a basis for potential collaboration. Coordinating policies on various scales is necessary in order to enhance biodiversity on a global scale; one option is to increase collaboration among cities. As a result, we found three groups with similar characteristics amongst cities with forests, paddies, and croplands as major compositions in terms of biodiversity. These findings will contribute to policy formation and efficient information sharing for ecosystem services management.

  MDPI AG, Oct. 2015, Sustainability, 7(10) (10), 14371 - 14384, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• Visualization of a City Sustainability Index (CSI): Towards Transdisciplinary Approaches Involving Multiple Stakeholders

  Koichiro Mori, Toyonobu Fujii, Tsuguta Yamashita, Yutaka Mimura, Yuta Uchiyama, Kengo Hayashi

  We have developed a visualized 3-D model of a City Sustainability Index (CSI) based on our original concept of city sustainability in which a sustainable city is defined as one that maximizes socio-economic benefits while meeting constraint conditions of the environment and socio-economic equity on a permanent basis. The CSI is based on constraint and maximization indicators. Constraint indicators assess whether a city meets the necessary minimum conditions for city sustainability. Maximization indicators measure the benefits that a city generates in socio-economic aspects. When used in the policy-making process, the choice of constraint indicators should be implemented using a top-down approach. In contrast, a bottom-up approach is more suitable for defining maximization indicators because this technique involves multiple stakeholders (in a transdisciplinary approach). Using different materials of various colors, shapes, sizes, we designed and constructed the visualized physical model of the CSI to help people evaluate and compare the performance of different cities in terms of sustainability. The visualized model of the CSI can convey complicated information in a simple and straightforward manner to diverse stakeholders so that the sustainability analysis can be understood intuitively by ordinary citizens as well as experts. Thus, the CSI model helps stakeholders to develop critical thinking about city sustainability and enables policymakers to make informed decisions for sustainability through a transdisciplinary approach.

  MDPI AG, Sep. 2015, SUSTAINABILITY, 7(9) (9), 12402 - 12424, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• People in non-urban areas are richer than those in urban areas? A comment to Ghosh et al. (2010)

  Yuta Uchiyama, Koichiro Mori

  In environmental studies, different types of system boundaries are needed. Disaggregated GIS data are crucial because they can be flexibly converted into the target boundaries. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be highly evaluated as a valuable GIS data. We, however, show the problem that GDP per capita in urban areas is lower than that in non-urban areas, based on the NOAA data of GDP. This is inconsistent with the fact derived from other relevant data. We discuss possible causes of the problem: continuous linear relationship between night-time lights and GDP leakage effects of night-time lights from urban areas to their peripheral non-urban areas excessive infrastructures in non-urban areas as compared with their economic output and bias in the allocation of estimated GDP data in informal sectors. We would rather contribute to the potential correction of the data than criticize the data in this paper. © Uchiyama and Mori.

  Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., 2014, Open Geography Journal, 6(1) (1), 1 - 8, English

  [Refereed]

  Scientific journal


• A STUDY ON CHARACTERISTICS OF POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND AGING IN FUTURE IN JAKARTA, AN ASIAN MEGACITY:- A comparative analysis with Tokyo -

  UCHIYAMA Yuta, OKABE Akiko, SHIMA Norihisa

  In this paper, population distribution and aging in future in Jakarta are estimated with organizing the raw data of population census. Through the comparison of those in Tokyo, it reveals that: In central areas with high density, mostly informal settlements, the overcrowded problem might decrease but aging problem will increase. In some growing suburban areas, both the densification and the rise of elder population will be problematic, which would require adequate policy.

  Architectural Institute of Japan, 2014, Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ), 79(705) (705), 2453 - 2462, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• Similarity and Specificity of Living Environment in Megacities: Analysis of Global Population Distribution and LandcoverBased on\nGIS Data

  内山 愉太

  Dec. 2013, じんもんこん2013論文集, 2013(4) (4), 139 - 144, Japanese

  [Refereed]


• 世界の中のアジア的巨大人口集積 : 人口分布特性によるメガリージョンの類型化 (特集 アジア熱帯メガシティの現在)

  内山 愉太

  日本地域開発センター, Feb. 2013, 地域開発, 581, 16 - 20, Japanese


• Study on Categorization of Mega-cities by Their Characteristics of Distribution of Population : Categorization of 35 Mega-cities

  UCHIYAMA Yuta, OKABE Akiko

  The population amount explains just one attribute of a correspondent mega-city. This study attempts to categorize 35 mega-cities by their spatial form. Based on the assumption that spatial distribution of population shows a part of spatial characteristics of them, firstly, distribution diversity among different range of population densities has been examined and four groups have been identified. Secondly, 2D distribution patterns have been examined by indicators of Moran's I and gravity of main urban area. The smaller the two indicators are, the more complex the urban form shows. It revealed that mega-cities whose characteristics are most complicated are concentrated in Asia. The categorization of mega-cities by their spatial characteristics that we developed provides significant information to cope effectively with their urban issues and consider their future scenarios.

  The City Planning Institute of Japan, Oct. 2011, Journal of the City Planning Institute of Japan, 46(3) (3), 883 - 888, Japanese

  [Refereed]

• ビッグデータと市民科学の可能性と課題：都市への権利と自然への権利の同時的保障に向けて

  内山愉太

  Lead, Mar. 2024, 日本知財学会誌, 20(3) (3), 96 - 98, Japanese

  [Invited]

  Introduction scientific journal


• Forest Environment Transfer Tax and Urban-rural Collaboration:

  Ryo Kohsaka, Taro Osawa, Yuta Uchiyama

  The Japanese Forest Society, 01 Apr. 2020, Journal of the Japanese Forest Society, 102(2) (2), 127 - 132, Japanese

  Report scientific journal


• 生態系サービスと「自然がもたらすもの」(NCP)をめぐる人と自然の関係性 : グローバルな科学政策インターフェースとしてのIPBESを事例に (研究所設立40周年記念号) -- (特集 社会倫理の可能性)

  香坂 玲, 内山 愉太, 江原 誠

  南山大学社会倫理研究所, 2020, 社会と倫理, (35) (35), 21 - 37, Japanese


• Forest Environmental Taxes at Multi-Layer National and Prefectural Levels: 37 Prefectures Survey Results in Japan

  KOHSAKA Ryo, UCHIYAMA Yuta

  The year 2019 marked the first year of introducing the national
  forest environment transfer tax. The forest environment transfer tax scheme is mainly for the forest management in municipalities but it
  affects forest policy at the prefectural level, because （1）37 prefectures having a prefectural forest environment tax need to explain the
  differences between the national level tax and their prefectural level taxes, and （2） the national level tax is allocated to prefectures to support
  municipalities. We analyzed the 37 prefectures to identify the influence of introducing the national tax, conducting a questionnaire survey and
  interview with the staff members of the prefectures. The results show that the policies to support municipalities to implement survey of forest
  ownersʼ awareness and expectations will be conducted relatively intensively. Regarding the prefectural ordinances, one prefecture has changed
  its ordinance to avoid duplication of policies implemented by the revenue of the national tax and its prefectural tax.
  Key words: Forest environmental tax, Prefectures, Forest environment transfer tax

  Oct. 2019, Journal of the Japanese Forest Society, 101(4) (4), 246 - 252, Japanese

  [Refereed]

  Report scientific journal


• Development of Geographic Indications applied to Forest Products; Comparative of Iwate Charcoal and Joboji Urushi in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

  Kohsaka, R, Uchiyama, Y

  The year 2018 marked the first registration
  of wood products, Iwate Charcoal followed by the Joboji Urushi under the framework of Geographical Indications （GIs） in Japan. The two
  products are from similar geographical settings from Iwate Prefecture while their motives, logic and challenges differ. Comparison under
  similar condition provides us with a unique opportunity to understand the Japanese GI system which has a short history compared to that of
  Europe. We report the latest information related to the processes and the tentative effects of the registration and characteristics of the GI of
  wood products which pose different characteristics from agricultural products. In concrete, we analyze the cultural conservational and
  economic purpose of the framework. As consequences, the two products differed in their logics for building “linkage to the production site”
  and basis for “tradition.” It became clear that the GI system serves the two purposes of cultural conservational and economic purpose.
  Key words: tradition, Geographical Indications, forest product, intellectual property

  Oct. 2019, Journal of the Japanese Forest Society, 101(4) (4), 242 - 245, Japanese

  [Refereed]

  Report scientific journal


• Sustaining Diverse Knowledge Systems in SEPLs: Sharing Tacit Knowledge of Apiculture and Mushroom Production with Future Generations

  Ryo Kohsaka, Ai Tashiro, Marie Rogel, Yuta Uchiyama

  Springer Singapore, Aug. 2019, Sharing Ecosystem Services, 117

  [Refereed]


• Chapter 4 Sustainability and Resilience in a Changing World, GEO6 Regional Assessment for Asia and the Pacific

  Lead Authors, Aruna Dias, Brian Johnson, Neil Stephen, A. Lopez, Jiyoon Song, Yuta Uchiyama, Contributing Authors, Michael Boyland, Karlee Johnson, Jinsun Lim, Jieun Ryu, Jimwell Soliman, Ai Tashiro, Le Thi Thanh Thuy

  Feb. 2019, United Nations Environment Programme, 24 - 31, English

  Technical report


• Trends and Characteristics of Biomimetic Technology: Towards Social Implementation

  Yoshinori Fujihira, Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Pan Stanford, Feb. 2019, Lifestyle and Nature, 339

  [Refereed]


• Analysis of Geographical Indications in agriculture and forestry: Focusing on the spatio-temporal multilayer of local products

  Kohsaka,R, Kajima,S, Tashiro,A, Uchiyama,Y, Sun Park,M

  2018, Proceedings of the 2018 Circular Economy Conference, English

• Development and Evolution of Urban Biodiversity Indicators and Assessment Tools

  Uchiyama, Y, Kohsaka, R

  Contributor, Chapter 26 (p 379-387), Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity, Routledge, Oct. 2023


• Research Institute for Humanity and Nature: A Japanese center for inter- and trans-disciplinary consilience of socio-cultural dimensions of environmental sustainability. In Institutionalizing Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity: Collaboration across Cultures and Communities

  Yasuhisa Kondo, Terukazu Kumazawa, Naoki Kikuchi, Kaoru Kamatani, Satoe Nakahara, Natsuko Yasutomi, Yuta Uchiyama, Kengo Hayashi, Satoko Hashimoto, Akihiro Miyata, Shin Muramatsu

  Routledge, Apr. 2022, English, ISBN: 9780367654344

  Scholarly book


• Generation of Urban Morphologies Through Long-Term Evolution of Socio-Ecological Urban Systems: Regional Characteristics and Sustainable Management of Megacities. Living in the Megacity: Towards Sustainable Urban Environments

  Uchiyama, Y, Hayashi, K

  Joint work, 105-125, Springer, 2021, English, ISBN: 9784431568995

  Scholarly book


• 縮小する日本社会 : 危機後の新しい豊かさを求めて

  香坂, 玲, 佐藤, 洋一郎

  勉誠出版, Oct. 2019, Japanese, ISBN: 9784585243021


• メガシティの進化と多様性

  村松, 伸, 深見, 奈緒子, 山田, 協太, 内山, 愉太

  東京大学出版会, Sep. 2016, Japanese, ISBN: 9784130651523

• Kominka as a driver of Satoyama forest management: Potential citizen-participated research and actions

  Yuta Uchiyama, Christmas Uchiyama

  The 136th Annual Meeting of Japanese Forest Society, Mar. 2025, English

  Oral presentation


• The relationship between residents' awareness of green space and their view of health in Kyoto City

  Sugitani, Y., Uchiyama, Y.

  2024年度環境情報科学研究発表大会, Dec. 2024, Japanese

  Poster presentation


• Inclusive urban ecosystem management: towards socio-ecological resilience and preparedness under uncertain futures

  Yuta Uchiyama

  University of Washington – Kobe University Joint Symposium: Ecosystem Management for Climate Change Adaptation and Societal Resilience, Jan. 2024, English

  Nominated symposium


• 野生鳥獣管理と人の移動実態に関するデータの分析に向けた考察

  内山愉太, 藤木庄五郎, 鈴木裕也, 三宅良尚, 高取千佳, 神山智美, 香坂 玲

  第134回 日本森林学学会大会 企画シンポジウム ポスト 2020 生物多様性枠組 （GBF） における 保全と利用の相克と科学政策対話の役割, Mar. 2023, Japanese

  Oral presentation


• 民間主体の生態系保全に資する組織連携の分析: 南アルプスエコパークの事例

  鈴木裕也, 内山愉太, 香坂 玲

  第134回 日本森林学学会大会 企画シンポジウム ポスト 2020 生物多様性枠組 （GBF） における 保全と利用の相克と科学政策対話の役割, Mar. 2023, Japanese

  Oral presentation


• 地方議会議事録分析による森林環境税の議論にみる位置付けの変容

  松岡光, 鈴木裕也, 伊神裕人, 内山愉太, 香坂玲

  第134回 日本森林学学会大会 企画シンポジウム ポスト 2020 生物多様性枠組 （GBF） における 保全と利用の相克と科学政策対話の役割, Mar. 2023, Japanese

  Oral presentation


• 自治体における野生動物保護管理の事業デザインと森林環境税

  岸岡智也, 内山愉太, 香坂玲

  第134回 日本森林学学会大会 企画シンポジウム ポスト 2020 生物多様性枠組 （GBF） における 保全と利用の相克と科学政策対話の役割, Mar. 2023, Japanese

  Oral presentation


• Green area visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic

  Yuta Uchiyama

  Green Infrastructures in the 21st Century: Conversations on the Progress, People’s well-being, and Pandemic, International Seminar, Jan. 2023, English

  [Invited]

  Nominated symposium


• Access and management of green areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: socio-ecological gaps in society and participation in conservation

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Conference of URBIO - International Network Urban Biodiversity and Design:“Integrating Biodiversity in Urban Planning and Design Processes”, Nov. 2022, English

  Oral presentation


• Global Environment Outlook for Youth Asia Pacific

  Yuta Uchiyama

  6th UN China Youth Environment Forum, Dec. 2021, English

  [Invited]

  Nominated symposium


• Review of integrated research on human well-being, ecosystem services, and spatial characteristics of cities: research trends and future directions

  Yuta Uchiyama, Masayuki Sato, Atsushi Ushimaru, Toshifumi Minamoto

  3rd Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) Asia Conference, Dec. 2021, English

  Oral presentation


• 建築・都市設計における生物模倣技術の応用に関する学術研究、実践の国際的な動向についての考察

  内山愉太, 香坂玲

  日本知財学会第19回年次学術研究発表会, Nov. 2021, Japanese

  Oral presentation


• Green infrastructure management during the COVID-19 pandemic: local perception and expectation on urban forest

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  Third Asia-Pacific Urban Forestry Meeting (APUFM), Oct. 2021, English

  Oral presentation


• Access to urban forest lands during the COVID-19 pandemic: influence of environmental factors and reexploring values and functions of forest

  Yuta Uchiyama, Ryo Kohsaka

  20th Commonwealth Forestry Conference / Concurrent session 8.3 & 4 IUFRO Div. 6 and 9: Certification | Policy | Livelihoods, Aug. 2021


• グリーンインフラとコロナ禍での行動変容

  内山愉太, 香坂 玲

  第３回研究連携オンラインセミナー 名古屋大学大学院 環境学研究科 減災連携研究センター, Sep. 2020


• Sustainable managements of green and blue infrastructures in urban areas with rapid aging: Citizens' attitudes toward their neighbouring environment

  Uchiyama Y, Tashiro A, Kohsaka R

  Urban Transitions 2018, Nov. 2018


• International forest policy and science policy Interface: ABS of local and traditional knowledge in CBD and IPBES

  Kohsaka Ryo, Nagasaka Kenji, Kajima Shuichiro, Uchiyama Yuta

  The Japanese Forest Society Congress, 2017, Japanese,

  [in Japanese]


• Factor Analysis of Forest Management Motivation: Based on Complete Enumeration Survey on Forestry's Owners in Komatsu

  Kajima Shuichiro, Orita Yuki, Uchiyama Yuta, Kohsaka Ryo

  The Japanese Forest Society Congress, 2017, Japanese,

  [in Japanese]


• Analysis of local knowledge on ecosystem services of pollination: review of research and field survey on beekeeping

  Uchiyama Yuta, Kohsaka Ryo, Kajima Shuichiro, Liu Jinlong, Youn Yeo-Chang, Park MiSun

  The Japanese Forest Society Congress, 2017, Japanese,

  [in Japanese]


• Japanese wood brands and intellectual property right Current Status of Woods

  Kohsaka Ryo, Kawakami Jungo, Uchiyama Yuta, Kaze Souichiro

  The Japanese Forest Society Congress, 2016, Japanese, [in Japanese]

• 可処分時間に着目した幸福度アプローチによる持続可能な消費の実現

  鶴見 哲也, 佐藤 真行, 内山 愉太, 山口 臨太郎, 篭橋 一輝

  日本学術振興会, 科学研究費助成事業, 基盤研究(B), 南山大学, 01 Apr. 2023 - 31 Mar. 2028


• Disparities and effects of acknowledgement of ecosystem services in daily life: developing a method for improving urban regional environment and health

  内山 愉太, 喜屋武 享, 高倉 実, 佐藤 真行, 丑丸 敦史, 原田 和弘, 香坂 玲

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Kobe University, 01 Apr. 2023 - 31 Mar. 2027


• 社会ネットワークを通じた環境配慮行動の伝播メカニズムと促進政策

  森 宏一郎, 内山 愉太, 京井 尋佑

  日本学術振興会, 科学研究費助成事業, 基盤研究(C), 滋賀大学, Apr. 2024 - Mar. 2027


• Policy research on science, technology and societ and biomimicry for transformative innovation towards 'from negative to positive' ustilizing nature technology

  Yuta Uchiyama, Fujihira Yoshinori, Ota Kazuhiko, Yoshinori Nakagawa

  Environment Research and Technology Development Fund, Environment Research and Technology Development Fund, Integrated Area Medium Funding, Ministry of Environment, Apr. 2024 - Mar. 2027


• Social Study on selection and deliberation regarding the application of advanced technologies such as genome editing to the field of food, agriculture, and environment

  立川 雅司, 三上 直之, 櫻井 清一, 山口 富子, 大山 利男, 三石 誠司, 新田 直子, 大塚 善樹, 香坂 玲, 藤木 篤, 松尾 真紀子, 石井 圭一, 内山 愉太

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A), Nagoya University, 01 Apr. 2022 - 31 Mar. 2026


• Valuation and conservation of urban ecosystem services under changing population structure

  佐藤 真行, 丑丸 敦史, 源 利文, 内山 愉太

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Kobe University, 01 Apr. 2022 - 31 Mar. 2026


• Balancing Tourism and Conservation in Era of Climate Change and Shrinkage: Land Use Maps as a Boundary Object

  香坂 玲, 内山 愉太, 高取 千佳, 岸岡 智也, 永野 昌博, 徳山 美津恵

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), The University of Tokyo, 01 Apr. 2022 - 31 Mar. 2026


• Unraveling urban resilience using City Preparedness Index: Scientific evaluation method for developing policy and action networks

  Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, Collaborative Regional Research Programme, Oct. 2023 - Sep. 2025, Principal investigator


• Regional management of Satoyama and Satoumi: Urban-rural collaboration and sense of commitment

  内山 愉太, 香坂 玲, 徳山 美津恵

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), Nagoya University, 01 Apr. 2020 - 31 Mar. 2023

  本年度は、里山・里海の管理に関わる緑地の管理行動について質問票による調査等を行い、管理行動に対する期待や行動の障壁となる課題、管理方法に対する認識などについて世代や性別、居住環境等による違いを明らかにした。具体的には、管理行動に対する期待については、比較的若い世代において、人とのつながりや、教育面での効果が期待される傾向がみられた。管理方法に対する認識については、農地や公園等の緑地について個別に対応することを重視する傾向が若い世代にみられるのに対して、水系などによってつながる生態系を一体的に保全管理することは比較的高齢の世代で重視される傾向がみられた。また、里山の希少種に対する経験や知識は、高齢世代の方が多く有する傾向も把握された。以上より、世代間での里山・里海管理に対する認識の差異を的確に共有し、認識の差異から生じ得る誤解やミスコミュニケーションを避けながら、各地域の管理の目的沿った管理の方法を構想する必要性が見出された。本年度は、観光資源管理の主体の一つであるDMOに着目した分析結果を取りまとめた論文の発表も行い、都市部と郊外農村部のDMOの連携における相互補完性と相乗効果を形成する方法論について提案を行った。方法論については、地域の土地利用への認識について、衛星画像から判読される客観的な情報と、住民の認識の相関関係について把握する方法を構築し、当事者意識の醸成等に向けて科学的データを活用する方法についても示唆を得た。


• Plant genetic resources and related traditional knowledge in semi-autonomous ethnic minority areas with political and geographic isolation

  Watanabe Kazuo

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A), University of Tsukuba, 01 Apr. 2017 - 31 Mar. 2021

  Field surveys and data digitalization were conducted over agricultural food genetic resources (AFGR) in areas with highly unique ethnic activities that transcend national borders. There are high associations with politically and geographically isolated mountainous areas, marginal forests, and ethnic minority areas with conflict zones. Main focus was on AFGR usage. Field surveys were conducted up to March 2021 every year, mainly in Myanmar and the countries along with its borders. AFGR were introduced to Japan upon appropriate legal procedures and they are maintained and evaluated for new value finding. Conservation and utilization of crop genetic resources due to high ethnic and cultural awareness was observed despite conflict and modernization. It may be difficult to maintain conventional crop varieties due to agricultural abandonment or destruction by the military junta of the country. Field survey reports are available at peer-reviewed publications.


• Are hertigate designations by the UN effective for biodiversity conservation at local level? Challenges for multi-scale colloboration and analysis of strategy by municipalities

  香坂 玲, 内山 愉太, 徳山 美津恵

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), 01 Apr. 2017 - 31 Mar. 2021

  本年度は国際共著を含む国際学術誌での論文発表や書籍出版を行った。世界農業遺産を含む地域認定の活用をめぐる地域アクターの連携構造について社会ネットワーク分析の手法を基に解析、地域間比較研究を行い、論文等において成果発表をした。また、地域認定と相乗的に活用し得る産品認証としての地理的表示についても調査研究を実施した。欧州や韓国、中国（中国科学院：Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden）における学会等にて招待講演も行い、若手育成に貢献しつつ、成果の国際発信を実施した。 科学的発信に加え、IPBESの第一期作業計画の外部評価パネル委員として、国際機関の次元で地球規模での科学的成果のレビューと政策科学のインターフェイスの課題を分析し、成果は国際共著論文としても発表された。地域認定の活用をめぐる地域アクターの連携構造に関する分析では、前年度の調査結果を基に、石川県能登地域、宮城県大崎地域、山形県鶴岡地域等の組織を対象として分析を進め、環境、観光、農業といったセクター別の連携構造の地域毎の特性を解明した。成果は英文及び和文の論文として公表した。 世界農業遺産等の地域認定と相乗的に活用され得る産品認証としての地理的表示の保護については、林産品を中心に調査分析、論文発表をした。その中で、林産品と食品・農業産品との対比、地域団体商標との比較研究も行なった（Kajima, Uchiyama, Kohsaka 2020）。また、関連して、認定地域の森林マネジメントにも資する制度として森林環境譲与税の調査分析も実施した（香坂・内山 2019; 香坂・大澤・内山 2020）。最終的に15編の査読付き論文(短報含)を発表した。最終年度に向けて、分析結果及び政策提言の取りまとめを進めており、行政、事業者等からフィードバックを得るべく、調査と成果の共有を同時に行っている。


• How does temporal distance affect evaluation of tourism resource? An empirical analysis of multi-generational participatory managements

  Uchiyama Yuta

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), 01 Apr. 2017 - 31 Mar. 2021

  This study demonstrated that visitors' evaluation of tourism resources varies depending on the distance to the resources, and that individual types of resources, such as scenery and festivals, have different evaluation patterns. Furthermore, we identified the reason why the evaluation varies with distance, and the distribution of people who rate each resource highly/lowly. For the resource management methods, a SWOT analysis was conducted to develop a local tourism resource management model for multi-generational participation. We also conducted a survey on the awareness on natural resources and the regional designation systems used for resource management, and analyzed the differences between residents and visitors, and between actors of different generations. The results were presented at international conferences and published in academic journals as knowledge for promoting multigenerational participatory management.