Topic

Resilience of Mountain Village Communities to Natural Disasters and Sustainable Forest Management

Abstract

The phenomenon of climate change has been demonstrated to exacerbate the severity of natural disasters worldwide. In East Asia, rising sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean have triggered frequent occurrences of extreme torrential rains caused by large typhoons and low-pressure systems during the rainy season. This study examines the eight-year recovery process and forest management challenges in a mountainous community affected by the 2017 torrential rain disaster that struck northern Kyushu, Japan, through field research. The disaster resulted in a 50% decrease in the community's population and a 40% reduction in the production area dedicated to its signature persimmon crop. Concurrently, a recovery committee was organized. The residents have engaged in processes of hill terraforming and planting with own local small-scale technology, thereby symbolizing recovery and establishing a destination for the observation of autumn foliage. The organization of events is pursued through the active involvement of female members and collaborative efforts with external entities. These events are strategically designed to foster a sense of community resilience. However, persistent challenges such as depopulation and aging necessitate a reevaluation of strategies to ensure the sustainable management of local forest resources and the continuity of agricultural production.

Biography

Through field-based research in rural and mountainous areas, Professor Noriko Sato conducts socioeconomic analyses of sustainable forestry management, multifunctional forest conservation, and mountain community development. Her recent work examines disaster mitigation and small-scale self-logging forestry potential. Beyond teaching forest policy and economics courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, she leads the Forestry Economics Association of Japan as president and chairs the Kyushu Forest Network NPO. Her policy engagement includes serving as special member of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Mountain Villages Subcommittee and on Fukuoka Prefecture's Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Promotion.

Presentation

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