New publication on the exchange of knowledge between generations
Students on the HNEE’s Master's study programme in Biosphere Reserves Management (BIOM) and Prof. Dr Denise Margaret Matias from the HNEE’s Biosphere Reserves Institute (BRI) have contributed to a new publication on the transmission of traditional knowledge in Japan. The study examines the contribution that intergenerational exchange makes to sustainable practices and ecotourism-based livelihoods in the UNESCO Aya and Mount Hakusan Biosphere Reserves, from the perspective of the local population.
Together with researchers from Japan, BIOM students Bernadette Ekua Bedua Afful and Racheal Fosu Donkoh, along with Prof. Dr Denise Margaret Matias, have investigated how traditional ecological knowledge is passed on. The study combines surveys and interviews with older people, young people, local leaders and entrepreneurs.
In both biosphere reserves, respondents regard this knowledge as a vital foundation for the preservation of their culture and the resilience of their communities. Young people see the older generation as key custodians of this knowledge.
At the same time, the study highlights differences: in Aya, according to the respondents, social cohesion and the fact that the reserve is confined to a single community facilitate regular, structured exchange. In the Mount Hakusan Biosphere Reserve, which encompasses several communities, coordination and the involvement of young people are, by contrast, more difficult.
The findings suggest that intergenerational learning can strengthen appreciation for nature conservation and support sustainable entrepreneurship. The authors therefore emphasise the importance of shared learning spaces, mentoring networks and educational programmes within the communities to preserve traditional knowledge in rural regions.
Mammadova, A., Afful, B. E. B., Donkoh, R. F., Monden, S., Harada, S. & Matias, D. M. (2026). Intergenerational Knowledge Exchange in Japanese Biosphere Reserves: Community Perceptions from Aya and Mount Hakusan. Environmental Management, 76, Article 255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-026-02560-8