Maintaining human well-being in a sustainable society

Our society today, on the environmental, economic and social dimensions, are facing various critical conditions. Under such circumstances, how can we sustainably improve the quality of our lives and the level of happiness without causing any major disruptions to our society? This is the fundamental question of this research project. In other words, it is about how to create a society that can flexibly respond (resilience) to exeternal changes to which our society and community are exposed.

This research project is trying to clarify the determinants for increasing social resilience by using specific cases of drought adaptation, salt damage and environmental issues, while proposing measures (including whether it is possible in the first place) to achieve both "the continuation of society" and "the happiness of individuals."

As to the research target, it has been focusing on Australian Landcare activities and carrying out through international joint researches in order to elucidate the nature and background principles of the "Landcare approach."

In 2017, an international conference was held to share the state of Landcare activities in Australia and around the world. While keeping in mind the role the Landcare knowledge can bring for the restoration rural areas in Japan, this research, through collaboration with researchers and practitioners from multiple territories, will explore factors that contribute to the resilience of land districts and communities.