We investigated the relationships between land use and water quality for 18 rivers in Wakayama prefecture, western Japan. Nonpoint-source pollution was identified in the northern and central parts of Wakayama prefecture and is likely related to the low coverage of residential sewerage systems. Elevated levels of nonpoint-source pollution in the central areas are correlated with orchard cultivation and result from crop-specific differences in fertilization rates and natural factors such as precipitation and soil productivity. In contrast, water quality in the southern parts of the prefecture is minimally affected by nonpoint-source pollution, as this area is heavily forested and thus less affected by human activity.

View full abstract

In recent years, survey methods in census taking are changing in Europe and North America. This paper explores the abolition of the long-form questionnaire and its consequences in the 2011 Census of Canada. In June 2010, the government of Canada cancelled the mandatory long-form census questionnaire because of privacy protection. As the National Household Survey, which replaced the long-form census questionnaire, was voluntary, the nationwide response rate was 68.6 per cent. The non-response bias may be high, therefore this shift results not only in a loss in data quality, but also a loss in comparability with the previous censuses.

View full abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristic ideas of local bioresource utilization through the analysis of formative processes and factors for the development of shelterbelt plantations on Izu-Oshima Island. Shelterbelt plantations in Japan have rich diversity and are a good index for detecting long-standing customs of the people due to the meteorology, ecosystem, and socioeconomic factors of each locality. Grid-shaped shelterbelts, which mainly consist of 50-m-long Camellia japonica queues, are observed on Izu-Oshima Island. The two-row C. japonica shelterbelt suggests the economic significance of this plant for residents. Another shelterbelt planted with alternate Prunus lannesiana and C. japonica trees indicates the resource-utilization literacy of the older generation. A C. japonica shelterbelt established around 2000 reflects the influence of traditional practices on current livelihoods. The close relationship between C. japonica and people's livelihoods on Izu-Oshima Island is described.

View full abstract

Traditional horse-riding falconry has been still practiced at a community of Altaic Kazakhs in Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia. However, eagle masters are now declining its population as well as traditional art and knowledge for taming and hunting due to massive cultural alteration by tourism. This research discusses vulnerability and resilience of preservation for Altaic Kazakh eagle falconry with reference to research results of ethnography and current social survey from long-term fieldwork. Eventually, cultural sustainability of Altaic Kazakh falconry needs to be supported from the angles of three theoretical frameworks; (1) Natural resource management, especially supporting the population of Golden Eagles, their potential prey animals, and their nesting environment (2) Sustainable development and improvement of animal herding productivity and herder's livelihood, (3) Cultural affairs for protection based on the concept of nature-guardianship in its cultural domain. The series of these sustaining procedures defines that eagle falconry is a hybrid culture which would not preserved only human actions, but also maintenance of animal herding livelihood as crucial social context.

View full abstract

Due to the deteriorating survey environment, Internet research has attracted increasing attention as a new survey method for data collection because of its low cost and reduced time. We summarized the challenges of Internet research with respect to sample representativeness and measurement accuracy and then analyzed actual data to examine features such as response behavior, response distribution, and geographical pattern. The results showed that: 1) sampling bias can occur in the survey data; 2) “frivolous” responses may be given in relation to shorter response time; and 3) there is a moderate effect of geographical setting. Finally, future possibilities and challenges for Internet research, especially in geography, are discussed.

View full abstract