Mie University
Graduate School / Faculty of Bioresources
Department of Environmental Science and Technology

Course of Forest Resources and the Environment
For the purpose of making full use of various functions of forests as material and environmental resources, this course is intended to teach and research on comprehensive and professional theory and technology related to forests. This includes such topics as forest ecosystems, tree physiology, sustainable control and management of forests, their social roles, conservation of soil and water, evaluation of scenery, and measurement of health effects. Moreover, highly functional, effective, and sustainable use of forest resources is considered from the low to the high levels of the biological organization.

We have twelve faculties and six laboratories in the course.
- Forest Conservation Ecology
- Synthetic Environmental Science of Forests
- Forest Conservation and Erosion Control
- Environmental Forest Operations and Systems
- Timber Engineering and Dwelling Environment
- Functionality Control of Phytomaterial
Forest Conservation Ecology

Professor Hiromitsu Kisanuki Email: kis@bio. (add "mie-u.ac.jp")
Associate professor Takeshi Torimaru Email: torimaru@bio.

Forest ecosystems are expected to be conserved without impairing their public beneficial functions, such as production of wooden materials, conservation of water and soil, conservation of biological diversity, and other functions of environmental conservation, etc. In this field, we study and research on life trees, which are the primary elements of forest ecosystems, and the regeneration process of forest with the aid of plant physiology and ecology. Education and research on the theory and practice of conservation and on the efficient utilization of forest functions are performed.

Synthetic Environmental Science of Forests

Professor Retired Email:

One of the most important themes of the 21st Century is the establishment of a sustainable and coexisting society. In this field, on the basis of historical and environmental roles of forests, we educate and research on future relationship between human and nature, focusing on the reestablishment of forestry suitable for a sustainable society, and investigate on the interchange between cities and mountainous villages in order. Introduction of our students to a coexisting society, investigation and practice on its systematization are also parts of our main topics of research and education.

Forest Conservation and Erosion Control

Professor Takashi Yamada Email: t-yamada@bio.

This research field intends to explicit the causal factors inducing erosion phenomena (e.g. landslides, collapse and debris flow, etc.) and changes to devastated lands occurring in Japan and overseas, caused by sediment related disasters and acute environmental changes in mountainous area. These factors are investigated through field survey, experimental methods and remote sensing techniques, etc. For this purpose, in this research field we educate and research on theory and techniques for conservation of natural phenomena (e.g. sediment and hydraulic phenomena), through the understanding of their reciprocal relationship, and the comprehension of processes related to devastation and restoration of natural environment.

Environmental Forest Operations and Systems

Professor Tomoaki Ishikawa Email: tomo@bio.
Associate professor Akemi Itaya Email: itaya@bio.

Education and research on theory and techniques for sustainable use of multi-sided functions of forests and green tracts as production resources, environmental resources and cultural resources, from a professional standpoint. We are especially concerned with such topics as the preparation of a basic system for utilization and operation aimed at sustainable and reproducible forest resources.

Timber Engineering and Dwelling Environment

Professor Naoyuki Suzuki Email: suzuki@bio.
Assistant professor Takayuki Uchisako Email: uchisako@bio.

We conduct educational and research activities on wood science and technology, dealing with fundamental and applied studies on solid wood and wood-based materials that can be made from it. Our research method includes not only physics and architecture, but also biology and chemistry. Teaching and research are carried out on wood histology, wood physics, wood-based materials, timber structure and dwelling ability aiming at more effective use of wood by human as renewable and environmentally-friendly materials.

Functionality Control of Phytomaterials

Professor Masamitsu Funaoka Email: funaoka@bio.
Associate professor Hiroshi Nonaka Email: nonaka@bio.

This field aims at getting basic information on material recycling system in the ecosystem through analyzing the functions of forest resources. For this purpose, we educate and do research on sustainable utilization system of forest resources, dealing especially with the separation of cell wall components, the design of functionality controllable polymers, the design and preparation of recyclable materials, and the establishment of a social system leading to sustainable and cascade-type flow of forest resources in the molecular level.


Last update: Apr. 1. 2014
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