Conserving Aster kantoensis through a partnership involving citizens, public administration, and researchers

Action to conserve the endangered species Aster kantoensis along the middle reaches of the Tama River, which runs through southwestern Tokyo, through a partnership involving citizens, public administration, and researchers started in 2002 (called the 'Aster Project'). The project was renewed in April 2007 because of an expanded scale of activities. After finishing all activities in 2007, we evaluated the new system through an oral survey of those citizens who had participated in the project from its commencement, in 2002. The new system was thought to have a positive image. It was easy to participate in the project because a newsletter had been sent out. However, the new system retained an important organizational problem: the relationships between citizens, public administration, and researchers were insufficient for the ideal operation of the system. It is difficult to remove a key factor causing the decrease in Aster kantoensis biomass because social problems, such as changes in river management, still need to be solved. However, it is important that this problem is resolved in order to achieve an ideal status for the Tama River. Agreements between public administration and researchers alone are insufficient. Understanding and agreements based on the experiences of citizens in watershed areas are indispensable. Conservation actions such as the 'Aster Project', involving partnerships between citizens, public administration, and researchers, are important for solving this big problem.