Date:June 21, 2010 (Mon.) 16:00 ー 18:00
Venue: Meeting Room, the 3rd floor, Inamori Foundation Memorial Hall
Presentation:
16:00-16:10 Kosuke Mizuno (Professor, CSEAS)
16:10-16:40 Shuichi Kawai (Professor, RISH), Kazuo Watanabe (G-COE Researcher)
16:40-17:10 Hiromitsu Samejima, Motoko Fujita (G-COE Researcher)
17:10-17:40 Kosuke Mizuno (Professor, CSEAS), Kazuya Masuda
17:40-18:30 Discussion
【Record of Activity】
Professor Kosuke Mizuno, the fieldwork research project leader, gave an explanation of the fieldwork carried out in Riau, Indonesia from the end of May to the beginning of June, and an overview of the fieldwork teams. The fieldwork was carried out broadly by the following three research teams: (1) The biomass team, which carried out research concerning biomass production, carbon flow, and water management, (2) the biodiversity team, which carried out research concerning the conservation of biodiversity, and (3) the social team, which carried out research concerning the people who live in the area around the peat-land from the viewpoint of social economy. During the fieldwork, discussions were held with PT Sinar Mas Multiartha Tbk, LIPI, the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, University of Riau, NGOs and so on. It was confirmed that the fully-fledged fieldwork would begin from August and the upcoming fieldwork, having formed a cooperative framework between the three teams, will aim to create a foothold for the establishment of a sustainable peat-land management model.
Below is a summary of the fieldwork report given by each of the fieldwork team representatives.
(1) Biomass team
An explanation of the social background surrounding the fieldwork (the problem of global warming and REDD Plus), the factor research necessary for this and relevance for this fieldwork was given by GCOE researcher Kazuo Watanabe. The purpose of the fieldwork by the biomass team was to analyze the soil, vegetation, atmospheric carbon and water, and energy balance by field investigation and remote sensing, and to determine a method for the sustainable use of peat-land biomass. A report was given on the varieties and features of the vegetation (tree heights and so on), the locations at which water quality data was taken and the fieldwork routes by the use of maps. In addition, Professor Shuichi Kawai reported on the status of applications to JST, JST-JICA and SCF, and the status of budget procurement for this fieldwork.
(2) Biodiversity team
A report on the purpose and current status of the research and plans for future fieldwork was given by GCOE researchers Hiromitsu Samejima and Motoko Fujita. The purpose of the biodiversity team is to clarify impacts on biodiversity of the destruction of the forest and peat-land and to determine solutions for reducing these impacts. An explanation concerning the state of destruction of the forest and peat-land, and the (at present somewhat inadequate) biodiversity monitoring methods of PT Sinar Mas Multiartha Tbk, the company managing the plantation was given, followed by an explanation of plans for upcoming fieldwork. The team is scheduled to carry out fieldwork using RCT to measure the varieties and numbers of animals by placement of infrared cameras, and a method to determine the varieties and numbers of birds by recording bird calls, with the cooperation of PT Sinar Mas Multiartha Tbk.
(3) Social team
GCOE researcher Kazuya Masuda gave an explanation of the fieldwork site, problems and fieldwork plans. The subjects of the fieldwork are the two villages, Tanjung Leban, a coastal area where people have led a traditional lifestyle since ancient times, and Air Raja, an inland area where migrants have settled. Problems in these villages are, for example, that in Tanjung Leban traditionally cultivated rubber trees are being replaced by the more economically efficient oil palm, and in that Air Raja, with the increase in population, the expansion of cultivated land is advancing into the peat-lands. In order to resolve these problems it will be necessary to clarify the connection between the problem of the peat-land and the expansion in the cultivation of oil palm, and investigate the differences in thinking between the government, the villages and PT Sinar Mas Multiartha Tbk regarding the problem of the peat-land.
An active question and answer session was held following the presentations. Several issues are given below in note form.
●There is a concern expressed by NGOs that if fieldwork data were publicized, the company might make use of the data, but there are various methods that can be used to prevent this, including not receiving money from the company and then not making any proposal or recommendation when submitting the material to a magazine. Also, if NGOs can make better use of the data, then there is no necessity to be concerned about this problem.
●Is it not necessary to make a comparison with natural forest in order to measure sustainability?
●In order to build up a cooperative framework, it is necessary to have a dialog with key persons in each of the organizations. Not the relationships that have been made up to now; it is necessary to form relationships with people who are in a position to actually make decisions based on the dialogs with us.
(Michisada Yucho)