Program/Project

Adaptive Governance of Multiple Resources based on Land-Sea Linkages of the Water Cycle: Application to Coral Reef Island Systems

Position & Title

Professor, RIHN / Professor, Faculty of Science University of the Ryukyus

Biography

Ryuichi Shinjo took a research position at the Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, in 1992, becoming a professor in 2007. His specialties are earth science, geology, petrology, and mineralogy. Fascinated by isotope geochemistry as powerful tool to explore dynamics occurring in earth system, he built a unique mass spectrometry laboratory including a laser ablation system and developed a technique for several isotope systematics (Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf, B, and Li) as tracers for the earth sciences. He has expanded the research subjects into submarine hydrothermal activity, hotspot and subduction zones magmatism at fields of the Okinawa Trough-Ryukyu Arc system, the African continent and the Himalayas. I am also working on quantitative assessment of groundwater contamination using stable isotopes.

Q&A

What kind of research are you doing at RIHN?

Water is very precious on coral reef islands in tropic and subtropic region; islanders have used limited water resources such as groundwater and spring water with great care and ingenuity. Typically, the scale of the water cycle connecting land and sea is small on these islands, and the coral reef ecosystem is closely related to the land through the hydrological cycle. In such coral reef island systems, a diversity of unique local organisms and cultures has been nurtured. In recent years, however, land use and socioeconomic changes have led to the depletion of water resources and deterioration of water quality on the islands, which has contributed to the degradation of the coral reef ecosystem through the water cycle. Furthermore, changes in precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and rising sea water temperatures associated with global climate change are also contributing to the deterioration of the situation. In order for people living on coral reef islands to sustainably use the limited natural resources (multi-resource) on the islands, including highly vulnerable water, fisheries, and forest resources, adaptive governance that can respond to climate change and socioeconomic changes must be strengthened. Therefore, together with researchers with diverse research backgrounds in the natural, social, and human sciences, we are engaged in various research topics with an awareness of approaching local issues from multiple perspectives, in dialogue and collaboration with the people of the Ryukyu, Palau, and Indonesian islands in the Western Pacific. It is an exciting challenge to see how we can realize the sharing and bridging of knowledge by integrating scientific and indigenous knowledge to deepen our understanding of the reality of the islands' natural resources, the history of their use, and ecosystem services, and to connect them to future generations.

Do you have a message you would like to share to people who want to do research at RIHN?

When I came to RIHN, I was surprised to see that it is well-equipped with the most advanced and state-of-the-art analytical systems to obtain fundamental scientific data for solving environmental issues. In addition, the network of people associated with RIHN has widely expanded both domestically and internationally during 20 years since its establishment. There are also many opportunities for dialogues, discussions, and seminars. I believe that RIHN is an ideal environment for considering global environmental issues from local to global, as well as from diverse specialized and integrated perspectives. Global environmental issues are complicated, and solving them is not easy. However, as members of the Earth, we have a responsibility to pass on a rich natural environment, natural resources, and diverse cultures to the next generation. I believe that diversity is the key word in this regard. We welcome those who wish to contribute to solving global environmental issues from a broad perspective, while deepening their own specialized fields and expanding their networks in other fields and in the society.

Affiliated Research Project