Okinawa Environmental Research Support Section
Overview
The Okinawa Environmental Research Support Section (OERSS) has launched since April 2019.
This new section includes the network with the Okinawa society, environmental observation networks, and experienced teams supporting those functions, which developed through the OKEON Churamori Project (https://okeon.unit.oist.jp/). We are supporting the terrestrial field surveys and its system conducted in Okinawa. We also aim to contribute to the sustainable development of Okinawa through environmental research and education.
Mission
- Provision of support for terrestrial fieldwork in Okinawa
- Maintenance and management of common equipment for terrestrial fieldwork
- Develop, manage, and facilitate the use of the Okinawa Environmental Observation Network (OKEON)
- Maintenance and management of equipment for OKEON
- Execute and manage long-term data collection and sample storage for OKEON
- Contribution to the sustainable development of Okinawan communities utilizing OKEON data, human resources, and collaborative network
Services
Current service for OIST researchers
- Information and network provision and paperwork support for permissions required for terrestrial field sampling in Okinawa Prefecture
- Coordination with the local community to conduct field survey in Okinawa Prefecture
- Providing information about the OKEON Churamori project study area
- Providing supports for field survey in the OKEON Churamori Project study areas
- Return, promotion and its coordination of the academic outputs related to the OKEON Churamori Project to Okinawa society
Latest Posts
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Fire ant identification training in Miyakojima (February 2020)
Yoshi from the Okinawa Environmental Research Support Section (OERSS) was invited to a fire ant identification seminar hosted by the Ministry of the Environment in Miyakojima. Using photos and specimens, he taught port managers and employees of a local health center and museum how to identify alien ants. After the lecture, we entered the container yard in Hirara Port to identify ants and discussed methods to prevent the invasion and colonization of alien ants.
A visit from a camera trap project collaborator (February 2020)
Dr. Akasaka, a collaborator of OKEON’s camera trap project, visited OIST from the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. We are studying the decomposition rate of the ecosystem and how this is affected by alien species and human activities.
During his visit, we discussed some preliminary results and the additional installation of cameras for the field experiments.
Fire ant control and strategy workshop (February 2020)
Professor Huang (Taiwan University), who is conducting joint research with the Okinawa Environmental Research Support Section (OIST), hosted a Workshop on Fire Ant Control and Strategy which provided an opportunity for Taiwan-based experts to discuss fire ant control strategies. Yoshi and Masako were invited from our section, and Yoshi introduced our RIFA countermeasure efforts in Okinawa.