アイルランガ大学実習
7/12 から 7/16 までインドネシアのアイルランガ大学の学部生向けに実習を行いました。生態や環境に興味をもつ 15 名の学生が参加し、日本の森林・流域管理と地域社会について学ぶことを大きな目的としています。
7/13
午前中は人文社会科学部の横田教授による講義を行い、家具生産など、森林資源を活用した地域経済の活性化について学びました。午後からはフィールドへ出かけ、人工林管理における間伐の重要性について解説したり、暖温帯常緑広葉樹林を構成する樹種について紹介したりしました。葉の形態から樹種同定を行う経験はほとんどなかったようですが、クイズ感覚で楽しみながら学んでいる様子が印象的でした。
7/14
富士宮市にある株式会社白糸植物園を訪れました。午前中は、植生調査に取り組みしながら、列状間伐を活用した持続的な森づくりについて学び、午後は、皆伐地で広葉樹の植栽体験を行いました。非常に暑い中、植栽するために地面を掘るのに苦労している様子でしたが、なんとか最後までやりきってくれました。実習後のアンケートではこの日の活動に興味をもったという回答が多数ありました。
7/15
午前中は、ニホンジカをはじめとする野生動物管理に関する講義の後、シカ柵設置作業のお手伝いをお願いしました。この日も暑く、慣れない斜面での活動でしたが、支柱を立て、ネットをかけ、地際をペグでとめる作業までやってもらいました。午後は、これまで学んできた内容を踏まえて、プレゼンテーションを行いました。日本とインドネシアの森林管理およびそれに関する話題を比較しながら、それぞれに活かせる提案を行うことをお題としました。森林でのレクリエーションから、土砂災害の防止、野生動物管理など多岐にわたる分野の発表があり、静岡大学山岳流域研究院の大学院生や地域の林業事業体のみなさんとも議論を交わしました。
本実習は今年度初開講で、海外の学生向けに基礎的な森林科学・森林管理に関するプログラムを提供する初の試みです。アンケート結果をみるとみなさん満足してくださったようですが、より魅力的なメニューを組み込めるよう、地域の森林・林業関連企業のみなさんとも連携しながら、試行錯誤を続けていきたいとおもいます。
(栗)
From July 12 to July 16, we conducted a short-term program for undergraduate students from Airlangga University in Indonesia. Fifteen students with interests in ecology and the environment participated in this program. Its primary objective was to introduce participants to Japan's approaches to forest and watershed management, as well as their relationships with local communities.
July 13
In the morning, Prof. Yokota from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences gave a lecture on how forest resources can contribute to regional economic development, using examples such as furniture production and other forest-based industries. In the afternoon, we visited the field, where students learned about the importance of thinning in plantation management and were introduced to the major tree species that constitute warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forests. Although most of the students had little experience identifying tree species based on leaf morphology, they enthusiastically participated and seemed to enjoy learning through a quiz-style approach.
July 14
We visited "Shiraito Forest Works" in Fujinomiya City. During the morning session, students learned about sustainable forest management using line thinning through conducting vegetation surveys. In the afternoon, they took part in planting broad-leaved tree saplings in a clear-cut area. Although the weather was extremely hot, the students worked hard and successfully planted the saplings. Many students described this day's activities as the highlight of the program in the post-program questionnaire.
July 15
The morning began with a lecture on wildlife management, focusing particularly on sika deer, followed by hands-on work assisting with the installation of a deer-exclusion fence. Despite the hot weather and the steep terrain, the students successfully completed the entire process, including setting fence posts, attaching the netting, and securing it to the ground with pegs. In the afternoon, the students gave presentations based on what they had learned throughout the program. Their task was to compare forest management practices and related issues in Japan and Indonesia and propose ideas that could be applied in each country. The presentations covered a wide range of topics, including forest recreation, landslide prevention, and wildlife management. The students also engaged in lively discussions with graduate students from Shizuoka University and representatives of local forestry organizations.
This was the first time this program had been offered and represented our initial attempt to provide an introductory program in forest science and forest management specifically for international students. According to the post-program questionnaire, the participants were highly satisfied with the experience. Building on this encouraging feedback, we hope to continue refining and expanding the program in collaboration with local forestry companies and organizations so that we can offer an even more engaging and rewarding learning experience in the future.
Kurihara