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Conservation of Biodiversity in Tropical Forest through Sustainable Coexistence between Human and Wild Animals

Environment / Energy (Global-scale environmental issues)

Gabonese Republic

Finished

Conservation of Biodiversity in Tropical Forest through Sustainable Coexistence between Human and Wild Animals

Creating a Future in which Human Beings and Wild Animals can Live in Harmony in the Tropical Forests of Africa

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  YAMAGIWA Juichi
  Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University

ODA Recipient Country

Gabonese Republic

Research Institutions in Japan

Kyoto University / Chubu Gakuin University / Kagoshima University

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Research Institute of Tropical Ecology (IRET) / National Center of Scientific Research and Technology (CENAREST), Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Development

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2008

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

A project that resonates with Japan, where people have lived in harmony with nature since ancient times
In Gabon, where forests make up more than 80% of the national land area, a rich natural environment inhabited by gorillas and other wild creatures has been preserved. The country is working to develop eco-tourism that balances nature conservation with a contribution to the local economy, but lack of knowledge and technology on the part of both researchers and neighboring residents is a problem. This project will study the ecosystems and analyze the genetic diversity of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, which has a particularly high level of biodiversity, and work to habituate gorillas and chimpanzees to human beings, prepare a guidebook to plant and animal life, train tour guides, provide environmental education to residents and so on.

Viewing tropical forests from a comprehensive perspective in search of the proper path for eco-tourism
A laboratory has been set up at the Research Institute of Tropical Ecology (IRET) in Gabon to study the distribution and diversity of fauna and flora in the park. Efforts to habituate animals to human beings and studies of the society and economic status of neighboring areas will be conducted on an ongoing basis, in an effort to preserve biodiversity in the tropical forest through the coexistence of wild animals and human beings in harmony.

Photo gallery

Infant gorillas play happily in a group that is becoming habituated to human beings.

In training on the island of Yakushima, researchers from Gabon engage in conservation activities together with members of the Yakushima Biodiversity Council.