Category: Research Activity

From September 2nd to October 23rd, Happy Mussa, Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho:MEXT) Scholarship Student from Kagoshima University, conducted research in Malawi.
He is conducting comparative research that combines participatory research on advanced cases in Japan with fieldwork on Lake Malawi. Based on the information he has obtained, he returned to Malawi once and conducted research for about two months. He conducted on-site research necessary to promote specific efforts to build a value-added distribution system and the sustainable and effective use of fishery resources through it, research on advanced cases, and research on fishery sociology and economics that are directly linked to fishery resource management and sustainable development in developing countries. He gathered a lot of information that will be useful in his future research.　

From August 8th to September 9th, 2024, Tamano Hayashi visited Malawi.
The final results of the Deadwood Assessment (DWA) were reported to seven Village Natural Resources Committees (VNRC) and village heads, and opinions were exchanged. Observed the activities of local organizations and innovators related to forest regeneration and had discussions with them. Discussed future research plans with Yasuko Kusakari and other members, including data collection for estimating distribution in LMNP.

From August 5th to 22nd, 2024, Hiromu Okazawa visited Malawi.
Visited the Malawi Mango Farm, surveyed the Sustainable Cape Maclear (SCM) plots and agroforestry areas, and conducted UAV surveys of farmland. Conducted UAV surveys of farmland and maintenance of meteorological observation equipment.

Survey in Sustainable Cape Maclear plots and Agroforestry areas（with Placid Mpeketula）

From June 27th to July 10th, 2024, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi.
The introduction of a diving computer for the design and maintenance of the artificial fishing reef (Chirundu) has significantly improved safety measures. A trial run of a new tour program by the tour guide association clarified areas for improvement and solidified the content of a short-term research program in Japan.

From April 4th to 18th, 2024, Shinichiro Kakuma visited Malawi.
Designed a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of fisheries resource management in the absence of fishery catch statistics. Discussed indicators with a local resource management organization, completed a prototype of the tool and tested the tool on the resource management organization. Installed an electromagnetic current meter on the lake bottom to observe the flow conditions around Chirundu for one year. Conducted observations using a CTD (vertical temperature, fluorescence intensity, and turbidity profiler) and a lake bottom topography survey using a Deeper (a simple fish finder).

From April 2nd to 23rd, 2024, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi.
The design and maintenance methods for artificial fishing reefs (Chirundu) have been almost completed, and able to formulate a future strategy for constructing the new Chirundu. Made progress in developing a new tour program centered on plantation tours, and have achieved great results in establishing a community-based strategy for managing protected areas.

From March 24, 2024, Talandila Kasapila from Lake Malawi National Parks and Wildlife arrived in Japan and enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering at Ehime University in April as an international student. The trainee, who plays a leading role in research into community-based protected area management and community sustainable development in Lake Malawi National Park, aims to utilize the principles of sustainability science and his accumulated experience to continue his research in the master’s program at the graduate school and obtain a degree. It is expected that he will utilize the knowledge he gained in Japan in the field of nature protected area management and sustainable development in Malawi after returning home, contributing to the continuation of the integrated natural resource management that the project aims to achieve.

From March 1st to 16th, 2024, Hiromu Okazawa visited Malawi.
Checked the current status of the solar irrigation system installed on the plots of Sustainable Cape Maclear and dealt with any malfunctions. Installed a rain gauge, a soil moisture gauge, and a monitoring system for the soil moisture potential on the plots. Also, maintained the weather gauge and acquired images using a UAV. Had dialogues with the irrigation area and the Parmaculture farmers to analyze leverage points.

From February 22nd to March 24th, 2024, Tamano Hayashi visited Malawi.
Reported the results of the Deadwood Assessment (DWA) to the Village Natural Resource Committee (VNRC) and the village head, and explained the General Meeting. Visited the regular monitoring of the DWA, and at the same time, identified the species of trees growing in the DWA plots. Held a General Meeting on the conservation of the main forests of LMNP with VNRC members participating in the DWA, the village head, local groups and individuals involved in forest conservation activities, and local MASALAPA members. Consider the creation of forest tour packages with members of the Cape Maclear Tour Guide Association (CMTGA), and held a meeting to discuss the creation of maps for this purpose.

From January 25th to February 27th, Talandila Kasapila from the Department of Lake Malawi National Parks and Wildlife was accepted as a short-term foreign researcher at Ehime University
In Malawi, he is responsible for research on community-based protected area management and community sustainable development. He researched cutting-edge research methods and expected results in Japanese sustainability science and protected area management research. He conducted collaborative research while revising his knowledge to suit the actual situation in Malawi. He was also able to learn the theories and methodologies required for obtaining a master’s degree in Japan, which he is scheduled to start in April, and his discussions with Nobuhiko Matsumura, Rupprecht Christoph (Faculty of Collaborative Regional Innovation), and Tetsu Sato were very meaningful.