Tottori University professors from Japan joined Central Philippines State University (CPSU) and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) in a collaborative research engagement on forest resource management.

Tottori University’s Associate Professor Dr. Keisuke Yamanaka and Assistant Professor Dr. Daichi Haga joined CPSU’s Forestry Department faculty from October 12 to 15, 2026, made possible by JIRCAS Senior Researcher Mr. Koichi Takenaka.

On October 12, 2026, the Forestry Department organized a program at the CPSU Graduate School building where Dr. Haga and Dr. Yamanaka shared their work experiences on forest management in Japan and introduced Tottori University to Cenphilians, including its best practices and leading facilities in advancing forest protection and sustainability.

For. Ascencion “Ace” S. Santocildes, Senior Ecosystems Management Specialist from CENRO-Kabankalan, provided institutional support by lecturing on Philippine CBFM frameworks and guiding the team through the field visit to the target community.

The team visited a far-flung upland community named Kapatiran Para sa Progresong Panlipunan (Kapatiran) Community at Barangay Locotan, Kabankalan City area situated at an elevation of approximately 505 meters above sea level, where the researchers explored practices in forest resources utilization in relation to the Kapatiran’s Community-Based Forest Management Agreement.

Forestry Department faculty members Professor Mary Ann S. Dagunan, Mr. Gregorio D. Predo, For. Wendel A. Pangaral, and Mr. Firmly V. Jacob assisted the visiting Japanese professors in administering their research instrument to gather the necessary data for the study, helping draw out the communities’ experiences in planting, nurturing, harvesting, and utilizing forest products.

Kyoto University Graduate School Student Researcher Ms. Aiko Matsuda also joined the CPSU-JIRCAS-Tottori University team as they conducted a research study in the local community.

Beyond fieldwork, the delegates laid the groundwork for a long-term partnership through research discussion and a meeting for the potential Joint Research Agreement, which is expected to span from 2027 to 2031 between CPSU and Tottori University.

The parties discussed the drafting of work plans and other essential concerns in making the long-term engagement possible, providing faculty and students with learning opportunities and immersion not only in both universities’ but also both countries’ environmental protection studies.

The collaborative engagement is a part of the “Development and Evaluation of Integrated Environmental and Socioeconomic Approaches to Sustainable Resource Management in Tropical Island Ecosystems” agreement signed by the university and JIRCAS on September 28, 2026, at the Joint Ceremony for Research Collaboration Between Philippine Partner Institutions.