都道府県によるニホンジカ指定管理鳥獣捕獲等事業の現局面

抄録

 The Designated Wildlife Species for Control Capture Program and the Certified Wildlife Capture Program Implementers system, established with the 2014 revision of the Wildlife Protection, Control, and Hunting Management Act, aimed to shift the wildlife capture system from one relaying inclusively by the declining and aging members of hunting associations to a public-sector-driven system involving private entities with advanced capture techniques. However, even nearly a decade after the introduction of these systems, their effectiveness has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study examines the current status of the Designated Wildlife Species for Control Capture Program for sika deer in Japan's prefectures using the policy paradigm shift hypothesis from policy process theory. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a quantitative analysis of the 2023 evaluation sheets of the program with qualitative follow-up interviews conducted with stakeholders nationwide, including prefectural officials, certified implementers, and researchers. The analysis revealed that in many cases, prefectural hunting associations are still responsible for capture projects aimed at achieving the culling targets set in specific management plans. This suggests that private sector participation has not progressed as expected at the time of the system's introduction. Two key factors can explain this trend, both emphasized in the policy paradigm shift hypothesis: (1) the path dependency of prefectural capture operations and (2) a lack of mobilizable policy resources.