Faculty Profiles - HARADA Kazuhiro

Scientific forest management practices in Nepal: perceptions of forest users and the impact on their livelihoods

Adhikari, S; Harada, K; Dahal, NK; Gurung, R

JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH Vol. 29 ( 3 ) page： 159 - 168 2024.5

Publisher：Informa UK Limited

Scientific Forestry Management (SciFM), an advanced silvicultural practice, was implemented from 2014 in the protection-oriented community forests (CFs) of Nepal, to advance national prosperity. However, in 2021, deforestation and rampant corruption led to criticism and the program was suspended. New policy formulations and discussions are developing among different actors in forest management. We, therefore, conducted a study to determine how CF users perceived the economic, social, and environmental aspects of SciFM and how it affects their livelihoods. We surveyed 290 households, interviewed key informants and conducted group discussions in the Terai and Hilly regions, where SciFM was implemented in CFs. All the users disagreed with the cessation of SciFM. Implementation of SciFM in CFs with sufficient reserve funds had a positive impact on income. However, those with fewer reserve funds incurred losses due to the initial investment required. 80% of CF users supported SciFM due to its economic benefits; 17% agreed on both economic and social benefits, while a mere 3% valued it for all three merits including resource conservation. SciFM was driven by the desire for financial upliftment, unaware of the corruption involved in its implementation. Policymakers emphasize the importance of addressing corruption issues and providing government support to implement advanced silviculture practices that are easily comprehensible to local forest users. The study’s findings underscore the need for policymakers to regain trust and gain public acceptance and support for regulations and management initiatives. This can be achieved by fostering transparent communication, consistent reliable actions, and active listening to stakeholders’ concerns and feedback.

DOI： 10.1080/13416979.2023.2275901

A study on the conversion of nature conservation activities into tourism based on consumer behaviour analysis

Hori Akiho, Iwanaga Seiji, Harada Kazuhiro

Journal The Japan Association of Regional Development and Vitalization Vol. 21 ( 0 ) page： 111 - 120 2024

Language：Japanese Publisher：The Japan Association of Regional Development and Vitalization

This study examined the potential for turning nature conservation activities in national parks into a tourism re-source through a questionnaire survey of mountaineers. The analysis revealed that a certain level of demand was expected for the conversion of nature conservation experiences into tourism, and that awareness of the location and past volunteer experience influenced interest in the experience plan. The analysis of internal reference prices also showed that awareness of the area increases the value of the experience plan. These results may contribute to the marketing of nature conservation activities for tourism, to securing financial resources by promoting tourism, and to sustainable revitalization through the revitalization of nature conservation in national parks.

DOI： 10.57340/ckg.21.0_111

Alternative Approach for the Inclusion of Local Communities in Forest Conservation with an Increased Local Livelihood Through Local NGOs Project of Arabica Coffee Plantations in Kerinci, Indonesia

Purpose of the Symposium (“Responding to Natural Disasters in Forests: Frontline Research Findings and Countermeasures” Joint Symposium held by The Japanese Forest Economic Society, Japan Society of Erosion Control Engineering, and The Japan Forest Engineering Society)

HARADA Kazuhiro

FOREST ECONOMY Vol. 77 ( 9 ) page： 18 - 19 2024

Habib, M; Harada, K

HUMAN ECOLOGY Vol. 51 ( 6 ) page： 1157 - 1169 2023.12

The transition of sokshing (leaf litter forest) property rights and management: A case study of Punakha and Wangdue District, Bhutan. Invited Reviewed

Ratan Gurung, Kazuhiro Harada, Nabin Kumar Dahal, Sudha Adhikari, Om Katel

Environmental Challenges 2023.9

Current Status of Forest Management and Stakeholder Relations in Kotohira-gu Shrine, Kagawa Prefecture

Aiba Soshi, Nishikado Saki, Harada Kazuhiro

Applied Forest Science Vol. 32 ( 1 ) page： 3 - 9 2023

Language：Japanese Publisher：The Society of Applied Forest Science

Soshi Aiba, Saki Nishikado, Kazuhiro Harada: Current Status of Forest Management and Stakeholder Relations in Kotohira-gu Shrine, Kagawa Prefecture. Ap. For. Sci.This study focused on the current status of forest management and the involvement of stakeholders in shrines, using Kotohira-gu shrine in Kagawa Prefecture as a case study. During the Edo period, Konpira temple (now known as Kotohira-gu shrine) managed and regulated forest use. The forest was maintained as shrine property throughout the Meiji and Showa periods, and the shrine's forestry department conducted regular patrols and management of the area. However, the number of staff involved in forest management had been decreasing due to the downsizing of the shrine organization in recent years. Governments relied on the owner (shrine) for forest management policies, so the shrine had hoped for support from them. The majority of the local residents agreed that forests should be managed as necessary and few suggested that shrines or government should take the initiative in managing the forests. On the other hand, some respondents did not specify the entity that promotes management. Further research revealed that interest in the Kotohira-gu shrine itself was not low, it did not extend to an interest in the forest. The above-mentioned information led to the conclusion that shrine forests have been neglected because the key actors in forest administration lack visibility. Raising public awareness of forests through the related institution would be effective in eliminating the neglect of forests.

DOI： 10.20660/applfor.32.1_3

The Current Status of Oshima Tsumugi Production as a Regional Resource and Efforts toward its Survival Reviewed

AIBA Soshi, HARADA Kazuhiro

Papers on Environmental Information Science Vol. ceis36 ( 0 ) page： 185 - 190 2022.11

Language：Japanese Publisher：Center for Environmental Information Science

Efforts to conserve regional resources were examined using Oshima Tsumugi produced on Amami Oshima and its dye, Rhaphiolepis umbellata, as examples. Although the production of Oshima tsumugi was prosperous until the 1980s, the production volume has been declining due to sluggish demand for Japanese-style clothing and the lack of an entity to control the production area. The survey also revealed that the planting of Rhaphiolepis umbellata has not been successful due to a lack of uniformity. In response to the decline in production in recent years, the council established by pongee operators and local government officials to train the craftspeople.

DOI： 10.11492/ceispapers.ceis36.0_185

Impact of wildlife on food crops and approaches to reducing human wildlife conflict in the protected landscapes of Eastern Nepal

Dahal, NK; Harada, K; Sudha, A; Sapkota, RP; Kandel, S

HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE Vol. 27 ( 3 ) page： 273 - 289 2022.5

One Village One Product as a Rural Development Strategy in Indonesia: The Case of Cacao in Nglanggeran Village, Yogyakarta Reviewed

OKITA Kanon, HARADA Kazuhiro

Asian and African Area Studies Vol. 21 ( 2 ) page： 260 - 277 2022.3

Language：Japanese Publisher：Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University

One Village One Product (OVOP) is a rural development movement that began in 1979 in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. OVOP in Ōita is regarded as a successful case and had been introduced as a rural development strategy in developing countries around the world. However, the movement failed to enhance community independence in many villages because governments kept the initiative in implementation. In the village of Nglanggeran in Java, Indonesia, several villagers utilizing locally produced cacao were able to enhance their cacao producing skills and self-reliance. This research investigates whether the case of Nglanggeran is an OVOP movement. The data is based on a field study conducted from August to December in 2019, and the results were analyzed in terms of the classification of local resources. Nglanggeran utilized various local resources, and these were supported by additional resources provided by external institutions. This paper reveals that the Nglanggeran model can be seen as a case of OVOP, and it proposes recognizing the existing local resources and supplying information to establish long-lasting local independence.

DOI： 10.14956/asafas.21.260

The role of NGOs in recognition and sustainable maintenance of customary forests within indigenous communities: The case of Kerinci, Indonesia

Production and commercialization of benzoin resin: Exploring the value of benzoin resin for local livelihoods in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Harada Kazuhiro, Wiyono, Munthe Lariski

TREES FORESTS AND PEOPLE Vol. 7 2022.3

Harada, K; Habib, M; Sakata, Y; Maryudi, A

LAND USE POLICY Vol. 113 2022.2

Earthquake Impacts on the Livelihoods of Community Forest Users in Sindhupalchok District, Nepal, and Their Perceptions towards Forest Conservation Open Access

Adhikari, S; Harada, K; Dahal, NK; Kandel, S

CONSERVATION Vol. 1 ( 4 ) page： 327 - 341 2021.12

Publisher：MDPI AG

<jats:p>Community forests are a crucial component of farming systems and people’s livelihoods in the rural middle hills of Nepal, where the population depends upon the forest for fuelwood, fodder, and leaf litter for their daily needs. This study aims to assess the perception of community forest user groups towards their postearthquake situations by using the five forms of capital from the sustainable livelihood framework. It further analyzes whether forest user’s attitudes towards forest conservation have changed or not. In addition to household interviews with 68 earthquake-affected households and extensive visits to the study area, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. This study confirms that the community forest user groups perceived negative effects on the natural, physical, human, and financial capitals, whereas they perceived a positive effect on social capital after the earthquake. Controlled access to forest products, such as timber collection during the recovery phase, restricted their resilience, although nontimber forest products supported it. Low agricultural production because of the scarcity of water for irrigation, as well as the soil infertility because of the landslides, caused local people to shift towards nonagricultural activities for income generation. Further, out-migration for job opportunities resulted in an inflow of remittances and, thus, manpower shortages were observed. Our results show that, despite facing the postdisaster impact on their livelihoods, 92% of the respondents were found to be positive towards forest conservation. This was because of their emotional attachment to the forest and the benefits received from the forest in the past. Local institutional policies and mechanisms must be strengthened to provide communities with the knowledge, skills, and practices for effective postdisaster recovery or for upcoming disasters, as well as the benefits of promoting sustainable forest conservation.</jats:p>

DOI： 10.3390/conservation1040025

Forest and peat fire countermeasures through cooperation between local people and governments in Indonesia

ICHIHARA Jun, HARADA Kazuhiro, MORI Masanori

Papers on Environmental Information Science Vol. ceis35 ( 0 ) page： 19 - 24 2021.11

Language：Japanese Publisher：Center for Environmental Information Science

The purpose of this study is to clarify progress of the forest and peat fire countermeasures and identify challenges of fire management in Lukun Village, in Indonesia. After the large-scale fire in 2014, the village advanced the management including establishment of village's fire countermeasure team (MPA) with capacity development and extinguishing equipment and establishing canal blocking. Continuous support of the governments is indispensable for effective fire management.

DOI： 10.11492/ceispapers.ceis35.0_19

Actual situations and challenges of timber legality assurance system in Indonesia

Kitayama Shun, Iwanaga Seiji, Harada Kazuhiro

Japanese Journal of International Forest and Forestry Vol. 111 ( 0 ) page： 3 2021.8

Framework for Accounting Reference Levels for REDD plus in Tropical Forests: Case Study from Xishuangbanna, China Open Access

Liu, GF; Feng, YF; Xia, ML; Lu, HL; Guan, RM; Harada, K; Zhang, CR

REMOTE SENSING Vol. 13 ( 3 ) page： 416 2021.2

Publisher：MDPI AG

<jats:p>The United Nations’ expanded program for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) aims to mobilize capital from developed countries in order to reduce emissions from these sources while enhancing the removal of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by forests. To achieve this goal, an agreement between the Parties on reference levels (RLs) is critical. RLs have profound implications for the effectiveness of the program, its cost efficiency, and the distribution of REDD+ financing among countries. In this paper, we introduce a methodological framework for setting RLs for REDD+ applications in tropical forests in Xishuangbanna, China, by coupling the Good Practice Guidance on Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and land use scenario modeling. We used two methods to verify the accuracy for the reliability of land classification. Firstly the accuracy reached 84.43%, 85.35%, and 82.68% in 1990, 2000, and 2010, respectively, based on high spatial resolution image by building a hybrid matrix. Then especially, the 2010 Globeland30 data was used as the standard to verify the forest land accuracy and the extraction accuracy reached 86.92% and 83.66% for area and location, respectively. Based on the historical land use maps, we identified that rubber plantations are the main contributor to forest loss in the region. Furthermore, in the business-as-usual scenario for the RLs, Xishuangbanna will lose 158,535 ha (158,535 × 104 m2) of forest area in next 20 years, resulting in approximately 0.23 million t (0.23 × 109 kg) CO2e emissions per year. Our framework can potentially increase the effectiveness of the REDD+ program in Xishuangbanna by accounting for a wider range of forest-controlled GHGs.</jats:p>

DOI： 10.3390/rs13030416

Transition of Forest and Land Policies for Leaf Litter Forests and their Customary Management and Use Reviewed

HARADA Kazuhiro, HASEGAWA Maya, GURUNG Ratan, Katel Om

Journal of Forest Economics Vol. 67 ( 3 ) page： 11 - 23 2021

Language：Japanese Publisher：The Japanese Forest Economic Society

The purpose of this study was to understand the changes of laws and regulations associated with collecting leaf litter in Bhutan, the opinions of local people and their recognition of these changes, and the actual conditions of management and use of leaf litter forests. Before the establishment of laws and regulations pertaining to forest management by the state in 1959, local people were free to manage and use leaf litter forests. However, these laws and regulations drastically changed the legal status of the forests. In particular, the Land Act of 2007 eliminated the registration of use right and introduced a rental system of leaf litter forests to local people. Nevertheless, in the villages surveyed in western Bhutan, management of leaf litter forests based on the law has not yet been applied because of the government’s limited capacity for law enforcement. Therefore, even now, more than 60 years after the enactment of the legal system for leaf litter forests, local people are still managing and using leaf litter forests as usual. Although the legal system has not been fully functioning and the strength of customs in the management and use of leaf litter forests differs between villages and among people in the villages, there is no guarantee that customary management and use will continue to be practiced. In order for the government to realize forest conservation and for local people to use leaf litter forests with peace of mind, the government should consider methods for putting the current legal systems into practice in ways that fit the local situations.

DOI： 10.20818/jfe.67.3_11

Current Status, Attitude, and Issues around Preserved Tree Systems, Identified through Surveying the Operators Managing the Trees

Aiba Soshi, Harada Kazuhiro

Journal of Forest Planning Vol. 27 ( 0 ) page： 11 - 25 2021

Language：English Publisher：Japan Society of Forest Planning

The "preserved tree system" and "preserved forest system" aim to preserve trees and forests in cities in Japan, and are operated by local governments. We conducted a questionnaire of the operators of the preserved tree system to examine their awareness of the systems in Nagoya (215 operators) and Shizuoka (60 operators), and clarified the relationships among operators, local governments, and community residents not involved in tree management. Questionnaires were returned by 117 (Nagoya) and 30 (Shizuoka) operators. The results were as follows: 1) Although local governments and operators agreed on the goals of the system (green preservation, improving aesthetic appeal, and preservation of trees with historical and cultural value), there were concerns over the associated costs and economic burden faced by the management; 2) There was a risk of conflict between the operators and community residents because calls for preservation by neighboring residents increased when operators stopped tree management. For sustainable preservation of designated trees in the local environment, promotion of cooperation between community residents and operators is crucial.

DOI： 10.20659/jfp.2021.002

Local perceptions of forest rules and interactions between rules, ecotourism, and human-wildlife conflicts: Evidence from Chitwan National Park, Nepal Open Access

Kandel Saroj, Harada Kazuhiro, Adhikari Sudha, Kumar Dahal Nabin, Dhakal Maheshwar

Tropics Vol. 29 ( 1 ) page： 25 - 39 2020

Language：English Publisher：JAPAN SOCIETY OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY

There is always a conflict of interest between conservation efforts and communities living near conservation areas. Buffer zones and opportunities for ecotourism are sometimes created to lessen the negative impact of the stringent rules involved in conservation which directly impacts the livelihoods of neighbouring communities. This paper examines a Nepalese community’s perceptions of the Buffer Zone Community Forest (BZCF) rules, and investigates the interplay of rules, ecotourism, and human-wildlife conflict (HWC). Data were obtained from face-to-face household surveys and key informant interviews carried out in two Buffer Zone Villages in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. It was found that access to forest resources has become more restricted since ecotourism was introduced in the BZCF. Furthermore, contrary to expectations, settlements both closer to and farther from the forest are largely affected to the same extent by these restrictions. This study recommends better livelihood opportunities for disadvantaged groups in and around the BZCF, along with the development of forest policies based in reality to improve compliance with forest rules and to gain local support for conservation efforts.

DOI： 10.3759/tropics.MS19-07

The Roles of Community Forestry and Leasehold Forestry in Nepal in Terms of Collecting Forest Resources Reviewed

HAYAKAWA Chihiro, KANDEL Saroj, HARADA Kazuhiro

Journal of Forest Economics Vol. 66 ( 2 ) page： 1 - 9 2020

Language：Japanese Publisher：The Japanese Forest Economic Society

This study aimed to clarify the role of Community forest (CF) and Leasehold forest (LHF) in terms of local users collecting forest resources, by examining the actual use conditions of both forests in a D village of Chitwan. Households were categorized into A, B, C, D rank based on socioeconomic characteristics, and we interviewed 51 households (30% of the total). The LHF program was introduced to alleviate poverty and is convenient for users in terms of forest resource collection. However, our results revealed that A-ranked households (wealthiest) had the highest LHF holding, while D-ranked (poorest) were lowest. In wealthy households, the sale of livestock was the main source of income and with a large number of livestock, LHF was a necessary resource collection place, while the poorest households collected required resources from CF. Almost all households interviewed could collect resources from either forest and were satisfied with collected resources. However, considering that the original objective of the LHF program was to assist the poor, there is concern that the distribution of LHF is biased toward the richest households which will widen the gap between rich and poor. Therefore, the government should consider the economic situation of each household and redistribute LHF accordingly.

DOI： 10.20818/jfe.66.2_1