2016 Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 43-49
In this paper, the author studied the trends and arid land research in the Japanese Association for Arid Land Studies (JAALS). Out of papers published in the Journal of Arid Land Studies, the number of papers categorized as review article has been reduced significantly over the past five years. Papers categorized as review article are important ones to step up researches on specific themes toward the new perspective. In order to rise up motivation of young researchers, an active contribution is desirable in the category. Especially, since research themes conducted by the member of this association are linked directly or indirectly with planning for drought and combating desertification, it is meaningful to organize and store research information in a form of review articles. Timely contributions on international trends related to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), and so on by members from administrative side are very much welcomed.
Though the number of articles categorized as original articles increased with the first publication, there is a decreasing trend over the past ten years. This is a serious problem that needs to be solved. Young members’ active contribution is greatly desired. Based on published original articles, research trends were overviewed in the respective nine research fields. The JAALS is characterized as an interdisciplinary association based on the fusion of liberal arts and physical sciences. This is a great strength of the JAALS and it is essential to appropriately utilize the strength for organizing and promoting interdisciplinary research activities.
