Gifu University and Gifu Prefecture signed the Agreement for Establishment of Gifu-prefecture Wildlife Management Promotion Center on Thursday, January 20, 2022 for the purpose of reducing damages caused by wild animals. The Center is scheduled to be built within Gifu University campus.

Under this agreement, the Center aims to meet the following objectives: 1) Promote "Digital Transformation (DX) using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) after reviewing the results of "Endowed Research Division" of the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University (the Division started in 2012). 2) Accelerate and reinforce measures to reduce damages by wild animals from the perspectives of protection of biodiversity, and 3) Address regional issues and contribute to the creation of an affluent society.

Members of the Gifu-prefecture Wildlife Management Promotion Center will work for "research on wild animal population, analyses of animal behavior," "instruct and support measures against damages by wild animals which are carried out by Gifu Prefecture and local municipalities," "human resource development to deal with damages by wild animals," "raise people's awareness about proper contact with wild animals and support their study," and "assist people in solving wild animal problems."

At the signing ceremony, Professor Masatsugu Suzuki, the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences gave a summary of the agreement. It was followed by the signing of Governor Hajime Furuta of Gifu Prefecture and President Hisataka Moriwaki of Gifu University.

"Gifu Prefecture and Gifu University have long been working for protection of biodiversity and measures against damages caused by wild animals both in research and implementation. We hope that DX will help us draft and carry out more detailed, effective measures against various issues induced by wild animals," said President Moriwaki.

In response, Governor Furuta stated that the Gifu-prefecture Wildlife Management Promotion Center is the nation's first academic entity at which the prefecture and the university staff jointly address issues of wild animals. He also expressed his hope for continued work with Gifu University by building a strong mutual trust and collaboration.

It is our hope that the latest signing of the agreement could give us a new impetus to strengthen our bonds with Gifu Prefecture and further contribute to the well-being of Gifu citizens and growth of local economies.