Revitalizing “endangered” rural communities thorough agritourism:

The roles of a local university

Akita International University, JapanCenter for Regional Sustainability Initiatives (CRESI)

Yoshitaka Kumagai Ph.D

July 9, 2010World Ecotourism Conference

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Population trend and its projection in Japan

National Institute of Population and social security research, Japan

Population and communities in JapanCurrently 127million people

It is declining as a wholeBut increasing in mega cities

1,727 municipal governments in JapanPopulation in 776 municipal governments is

declining 45% of municipal governments8 million people--6.3%

50 % of Japan’s land is being depopulatedThere are 2,643 endangered communities in

those depopulating cities/towns/villages

Akita, Japan

•The 3rd largest prefecture•1.1 million people•Snowy in winter•Mining and Forestry•Agriculture•76 endangered communities

Issues in Akita

High suicide rate (the worst for 15 years)High unemployment rateHigh cancer rateLow incomeAgingDepopulationLosing a pride and hope

Potentials

EducationNatural resources

World nature heritage sites Water Landscape

Food Rice and Sake

Folk cultureWisdom

The role of a local university:Requests from municipal governmentsRevitalizing endangered communities

through ecotourism Research Initiative Coordination Developing a plan Monitoring

Agritourism

Akita International UniversityCenter for Regional Sustainability Initiatives (CRESI) Research on

History Folk culture Food Community

8 faculty members 、 12 students 、 1 fulltime staff

Japan, Poland, UK, US Communication, Recreation management,

Anthropology, Philosophy, International Development, architecuture

CRESI’s approch

Getting together with local people

Exploring local

resources with

outsiders’ eyes

Linking various

resources within

community

Sorting out resources and developing a

plan and strategy

Implementing the plan and developing a monitoring

system

Capacity Building

Exploring and Analyzing community resources

IndustryNature

Historic sites

Landscape

Atmosphere

Infrastructures

Facilities

Community Capital

Festivals

Information

Culture Unity

People

Hard

Soft

Foods

Exploring potential resources by CRESI(1)

Exploring potential resources by CRESI(2)

Exploring potential resources by CRESI(3)

Exploring potential resources by CRESI(4)

Interviewing with local residents

CRESI ＆ Akita PrefectureLaunched in 2005, Two years CurriculumLearning how to link among various

resources within a communityLectures, workshops, event

planning/management

CRESI ＆ Akita PrefectureLaunched in 2005, Two years CurriculumLearning how to link among various resources within a communityLectures, workshops, event planning/management

Marketing Negotiation skills Data collection NPO& NGO Communication

Grant Proposal Conflict management Project Planning Public Relations

Developing a plan

What to achieve?How to achieve?Who would play what role?What to provide/sell?What and what need to be linked?To whom?

Akita capacity building seminar

Future of CRESI

Keep working on this Fostering producers and coordinators Establishing extension services Accumulating cases and data

Secretarial office of IUCN/WCPA-Japan Park and protected area management

“International workshop on protected area management beyond 2010” in winter 2011

“Asian Park Congress” in fall 2011