Japan International Cooperation Agency

About: Japan International Cooperation Agency is a government organization based out in Tokyo, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 555 authors who have published 613 publications receiving 9536 citations.

Planning of coastal-zone management and capacity development in fisheries using participatory planning

Abstract: Participatory planning (PP) is a powerful tool in formulating development projects as well as conservation ones. However, there are few studies and practices being done by using PP for the purpose of fishery management and coastal conservation. This paper describes an attempt to enhance planning capacity of fishery planners from various countries. A new model training system that focused on providing participants were applied with the planning tools and opportunity for designing an action plan to solve a set of problems they are facing. Ten fishery development projects as well as biodiversity conservation projects were generated. Each plan was equipped with the clear objectives, means to achieve objectives and associated risks to the projects. Participants have improved their capability of fishery planning and recognized the usefulness of this approach about development planning. Further assistance to develop these seed projects was suggested.

Food dropping as a food transfer mechanism among western lowland gorillas in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon.

Abstract: In this paper, I describe the food-dropping behavior of western lowland gorillas observed in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon. I collected observational data of gorillas eating in trees, and recorded whether any individuals were positioned under the same tree. In 22 of the 24 cases of individuals being present under a tree, I observed the gorilla in a tree dropping food to the individual below. In most cases, the recipient was a silverback or an elder half-sibling of the dropper. The dropper’s elder full-sibling was never a recipient. The food-dropping behavior of Moukalaba western lowland gorillas is likely due to a combination of factors: their frugivory, arboreality, large body size, and the scarcity of terrestrial herbs. It is difficult for multiple gorillas to simultaneously feed in the same tree. Under such limitations, younger gorillas face difficulties in defending their feeding patches from older individuals. Nearly 90 % of the recipients were older than the food droppers. Furthermore, food droppers were significantly younger than non-food droppers who simultaneously fed on the same tree, and most-food recipients were significantly older than least-food recipients on the ground. Food dropping may, therefore, be a tactic employed by younger gorillas to defend a feeding site from older individuals. This study suggests that food dropping may reduce feeding contest competition in a gorilla group in Moukalaba. This is a preliminary study that indicates that food dropping may be intentionally used as a way to reduce feeding competition; nevertheless, further studies are needed.

Introduction

Abstract: This chapter is an introductory chapter that touches upon general information about Hinase in addition to the social aspects of marine conservation activities to provide an overall context for the book. First, it shares the author’s episode of initial encounter with eelgrass restoration activity in Hinase, which provided the motivating factors to study their activity. It also shares the location of Hinase and the legal setting of the Hinase Sea. Then, the description of the objectives, methodology, and limitations of this book follow. Finally, this chapter provides a literature review on marine conservation to construct linkages with the other chapters. The literature review also highlights international discussion trends toward human-nature interactions for understanding environmental issues. The study settings in Japan are also emphasized to situate the importance of Hinase’s case. Considering that conservation concerns human activity enabled by various groups of people with different ideas, this chapter covers various viewpoints from the social sciences and humanities. In particular, the review is composed of historical arguments made by academics from Japan and overseas in the fields of philosophy, environmental ethics, anthropology, political ecology, environmental management, and sociology.