Academia, government enter seven-party partnership to preserve World Natural Heritage sites in Okinawa
Governor Denny Tamaki (top, center) with President Mutsumi Nishida of the University of the Ryukyus, President Peter Gruss of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, and others, during the partnership agreement signing ceremony held online.
August 20, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On August 19, seven parties, including the prefectural government and the University of the Ryukyus, entered a partnership agreement to preserve and manage the World Natural Heritage sites of northern Okinawa and Iriomote Island. The partnership will advance long-term research and human resources training in preservation management. Governor Denny Tamaki said at the online signing ceremony, “we will be putting together a budget for the project.”
Other signees of the partnership agreement are the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST); the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES); Forestry and Forest Product Research Institute, Kyushu Research Center; Kyushu [sic] Regional Forest Office, Okinawa Bureau; and the Ministry of the Environment, Okinawa Amami Natural Environment Office. Each organization has conducted its own nature and culture research for some time. Their combined scientific expertise will aid in maintaining the World Heritage sites and monitoring the registered site reports submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Mutsumi Nishida, President of the University of the Ryukyus, said, “The University has wide-ranging research experiences in the areas of nature, culture, tourism, and World Natural Heritage sites. I look forward to sending in some of our students to contribute to this partnership.” Hiroya Yamano, Regional Director of the National Institute for Environmental Studies, and Shinichiro Tohmura, Director of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute Kyushu Branch, also shared their enthusiasm for developing young researchers for the project.
(English translation by T&CT and Monica Shingaki)
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