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Home > Tenured Faculties > Kayo Chihiro
Kayo Chihiro
Affiliation | Institute of Agriculture |
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Division | Division of Environment Conservation |
Research field | Forest Planning, Environmental Systems Engineering |
Keyword(S) | Material Flow Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment, Statistical Analysis |
Url | http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~foremana/index.html |
Research experience | ・2009-2011 Post Doctoral Fellow at National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan |
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Educational background | ・2004 Bachelor of Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Japan |
Awards | * The latest information is shown at the member's website. |
Selected papers and publications | * The latest information is shown at the member's website. |
As society's expectation of the role of forests is expanding from its traditional function of wood production to a more multifunctional role, we need to develop forest planning, as well as the field of forest planning studies in an academic framework, in order to bring out the full ability of forests to protect the environment, which include the mitigation of global warming, the preservation of biodiversity, and the protection of soil and water resources. Through the sustainable use of wood, a renewable resource, in place of exhaustible resources, such as fossil and mineral resources, the traditional wood production function of forests will also be an effective means for building a sustainable society. The consumption of resources and energy is increasing in the Asian countries surrounding Japan with their rapid economic growth, and intertwines them in global environmental problems, such as the depletion of resources and global warming. Furthermore, the continuing reduction of forest areas, particularly in tropical regions, due to excessive timber harvesting and land use changes has emerged as a serious issue on a global scale. With the objective of contributing to the development of the field of forest planning studies, this study examines desirable approaches to sustainable forest management and wood use in Japan and Asia, and carries out a material flow/stock analysis of forests and wood, economic model analysis, and field study-based environmental assessment of forest management and wood use practices; it aims to develop the framework for an integrated evaluation of forest management, wood supply and demand and environmental impact based on the results of the analyses.
I believe that a tenure track position at this university provides considerable advantages to young researchers. The start-up of research is sufficiently funded, and campus duties, such as lectures, laboratory courses and committee work, are reduced, providing an environment where researchers can concentrate independently on their research activities. Also, researchers/educators are evaluated according to clearly established criteria so as to ensure transparency. When you meet these criteria and have your capabilities recognized, a permanent post is always guaranteed. This is one of the attractions of tenure track positions. As it is, however, contingent on the meeting of evaluation criteria, researchers will have to spend their tenure track periods in a state of suspense.
The Division of Environment Conservation of the Graduate School of Agriculture is an institution that carries out education and research on management and use of the natural environment and natural resources in a field that encompasses forests and human society by integrating the fields of agriculture, engineering and their hybrids. From my experience in research activities from the points of view of both engineering and forestry, I am fully aware of the importance of education and research in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary academic field. I will devote myself to education and research activities with appreciation of such a perspective. I will also avail myself to teach my students the joy and importance of thinking, acting and pursuing the unknown on their own, and develop them into human resources who will contribute to the realization of society where humans and the natural environment exist together symbiotically.