Category: Research Activity

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.

From January 19th to February 2nd, 2024, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi.
Detailed observations of the current state of Chirundu were made, detailed knowledge was gained about the settlement and reproduction of important fish species, and a new strategy for the maintenance and management of Chirundu was established. Progress was made in the development of new tour programs by the tour guide association, and a plan for a short-term research program in 2024 was finalized. In addition, a current state visit to the recycling center of Sustainable Cape Maclear was conducted.

From December 17th, 2023, to January 13th, 2024, Hopeson Kasiya, a long-term researcher at the University of Tokyo, conducted research in Malawi.
Through interviews with various stakeholders, including local residents and government officials in local fishing villages, as well as with the Fisheries Department and fisheries management authorities, he was able to collect research data on fisheries governance and climate change.

Visited fishing communities and conducted an interview

From October 12th to 29th, 2023, Dorotea Rampisela and Ilyas visited Malawi.
Conducted site visits and held seminars and workshops in each village as an expert from Indonesia.
Dialogue and collaboration between various research members and local partners were realized.

From October 8th to 31st, 2024, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi.
Agnes Rampisela and Ilyas’ visit to Chembe village enabled them to have dialogue and collaboration with various research members and local partners. The research content was deepened through dialogue and exchange. The future path was clarified through the trial of a new tour program by the tour guide association, and community-based tourism has made great progress. In addition, they demonstrated and discussed environmental monitoring using drones with Lameck Fiwa and Phillip Kapulula.

From October 3rd to 18th, 2023, Maskey Sarvesh visited Malawi.
Collected necessary data and identified issues through dialogue with local residents, holding workshops, and conducting experiments, to collect information on water management strategies and issues from nine irrigated farms in Chembe village. Had a meaningful discussion about future research.

Visited irrigated agriculture in Chembe

From October 3rd to 30th, 2023, Dickson Mazibuko, a long-term researcher at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, conducted research in Malawi.
He investigated vegetable production techniques, particularly biochar production, and conducted drone surveys of rural areas. He also had thorough discussions with local residents about dialogue, holding workshops, collecting necessary data, and identifying problems.

Research into vegetable production techniques (especially biochar production), discussions with local innovators, and drone surveys of rural areas