Information – Establishment of a Sustainable Community Development Model based on Integrated Natural Resource Management Systems in Lake Malawi National Park (Malawi IntNRMS project)

March 2025　Shigeru Yanaka　Condolences

On March 20, Shigeru Yanaka, a SATREPS Malawi Project member, passed away.
I was speechless to receive the sudden news even though I had heard from him that he was recuperating from an illness by email correspondence last year.
Starting at Nagano University, he cooperated as a co-researcher in our projects and also joined our projects at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature and Ehime University.
In 2022, he joined the research work at Malawi, Yakushima, and Aya. He also accompanied the Malawian researchers at Chizu during their research in Japan.
I have met many different researchers in my long career.
Among them, he was an extensive, knowledgeable, and multiple-talented professor who was always curious about information and eager to try new things.
I posted one memorial photo at Nagano where we went together for research among the many photos we had taken.
Yanaka-sensei, thanks for all that you’ve done. I have a lot of pleasant memories with you. I am very grateful for you.

: May 10, 2014　 In Sakurai district, Saku City, Nagano Prefecture　Tasting spring water

: May 11, 2014　 At St. Cousair, Iizuna-machi, Nagano Prefecture　Perfect smile

(Text/photo by Atsuko Fukushima)

February 2025　Research in Yakushima　Talandila Kasapila

From February 27th to March 8th, 2025, Talandila Kasapila, a long-term researcher at Ehime University, conducted research in Yakushima.
Following on from his on-site research in Yakushima in October last year, he returned to conduct research for his master’s thesis. He was able to conduct academic research and discussions on sustainable environmental management, focusing on how the relationship between humans and nature affects the management, conservation, and sustainability of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the role of community activities in transforming and conserving Yakushima’s ecosystem.

December 2024　Visit Malawi　Tetsu Sato

From December 11th to 24th, 2024, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi.
Discussed the details of the schedule and content of Nicholas Chanza’s short-term research program in Japan, scheduled for 2025, and planned an effective collaborative research.
Encouraged future progress in the development of new tour programs and community-based Sato-umi management through discussions with Phillip Kapulula and Oscar Mwenyedawo and stakeholders in Chembe village.

November 2024　Overseas research　Hopeson Kasiya

From November 15th, 2024 to January 3rd, 2025, Hopeson Kasiya, a long-term research fellow at the University of Tokyo, conducted research in Malawi.
He conducted face-to-face interviews and questionnaires with local residents and fishermen to grasp and evaluate the current situation regarding resource management activities in three fishing villages on Lake Malawi (Musaka, Mazeze, and Malembo). He also surveyed on awareness of changes in the social-ecological system, and from these results, he was able to collect a huge amount of data that was enough to compile recommendations for improving resource management activities in the future.

November 13th, 2024　Renewal of the MOU between UNIMA and EU

Both parties agreed to renew the Memorandum of Understanding for Academic Exchange between University of Malawi, Malawi and National University Corporation Ehime University, Japan, as it has been five years since both signed on November 13, 2019. (On October 16th, 2024, Sato visited the UNIMA and received a signed MOU from the Vice Chancellor Samson Sajidu.)

November 7th, 2024　Tokyo University of Agriculture and the University of Tokyo hold a joint research seminar

A seminar was held at the Tokyo University of Agriculture to discuss the results of the short-term research program by Phillip Kapulula. On the same day, a seminar was held at the University of Tokyo’s Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute to discuss the results of the short-term research program by Oscar Mwenyedawo.

October 2024　Yakushima Research　Tetsu Sato・Rupprecht Christoph・Talandila Kasapila・Phillip Kapulula

From October 30th to November 2nd, 2024, Tetsu Sato and Phillip Kapulula
From October 30th to November 4th, 2024, Rupprecht Christoph and Talandila Kasapila
We had a meeting with key stakeholders for Talandila Kasapila’s master’s thesis. We conducted a joint research project with Phillip Kapulula on tourism resource management. Through dialogue with many stakeholders on the transformation of the relationship between people and nature in Yakushima and through site visits, we were able to accumulate knowledge on the relationship between the World Heritage Site and people’s lives. In particular, we gained new knowledge on the synergy between tourism resource management and other natural resources.

October 17th, 2024　4th JCC

The 4th Joint Coordination Committee of the Malawi SATREPS Project was held (in-person and online hybrid format) with 24 participants.

October 16th, 2024　Technical Meeting

The Technical Meeting of the Malawi SATREPS Project was held (in-person and online hybrid format) with 32 participants.

October 2024　Visit Malawi　Masato Nikaido and Mitsuto Aibara

From October 12th to 25th, 2024, Masato Nikaido and Mitsuto Aibara visited Malawi. Conducted environmental DNA experiments with local researchers and technicians at the DNA lab at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. Successfully transferred technology to local researchers and technicians by jointly carrying out almost all steps of environmental DNA analysis and sharing manuals. Shared knowledge about fish species that are likely to be included in environmental DNA by inspecting Chirundu in Chembe village and conducting a fish layer survey.

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