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Japan's traditional and fragile satoyama landscape system was developed over centuries of human life on mountainous island terrain in a monsoon climate. The carefully managed coppice woodlands on the hillsides, the villages strung along the base of the hills, and the carefully tended paddy fields of rural Japan made possible the sustainable interaction of nature and humans. Radical changes in the middle of the twentieth century led to the abandonment of satoyama landscapes which now are being rediscovered. There is a new realization that these woodlands still play a vital role in the management of the Japanese landscape and a new determination to manage them for the future. This multifaceted book explores the history, nature, biodiversity, current conservation measures, and future uses of satoyama. The information presented here will be of interest in all parts of the world where patterns of sustainable development are being sought.
List of contents
1 Ideological Contribution of Satoyamas.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 International Perspective on Coppice Woodlands.- 1.3 Contributions to the Book.- 1.4 Contributions of the Book.- 2 The Nature of Satoyama Landscapes.- 2.1 Satoyama Landscapes as Managed Nature.- 2.2 Satoyama Landscapes and Conservation Ecology.- 2.3 Citizen Conservation of Satoyama Landscapes.- 2.4 Environmental Policy and Satoyama Landscapes.- 3 Satoyama Landscape Transition.- 3.1 Transition of Satoyama Landscapes in Japan.- 3.2 Satoyama Landscape Transition in the Kanto Area.- 3.3 Satoyama Landscape Transition in the Kansai Area.- 3.4 Mechanisms of Satoyama Landscape Transformation.- 4 Biological Diversity in Satoyama Landscapes.- 4.1 Conserving Biological Diversity.- 4.2 Species Diversity in Satoyama Landscapes.- 4.3 Wetland Environments and Biodiversity in the Hills.- 4.4 Birds of Prey Living in Yatsuda and Satoyama.- 5 Approaches to Satoyama Conservation.- 5.1 Nationwide Partnerships for Satoyama Conservation.- 5.2 Coppice Woodland Maintenance by Volunteers.- 5.3 Regeneration of Satoyama Landscapes.- 5.4 Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems.- 6 Biological Resources.- 6.1 Biological Resources in Village Life.- 6.2 Coppice Wood as an Energy Source.- 6.3 Nature Study in Satoyama Landscapes.- 7 Long-term Strategy for Satoyama Conservation.- 7.1 Strategic Management of Satoyama Landscapes.- 7.2 Legal Systems for Satoyama Landscape Conservation.- 7.3 National Land Planning of Satoyama Landscapes.- References.- Glossary of Terms.- Regional and Prefectural Map of Japan.
Summary
Japan’s traditional and fragile satoyama landscape system was developed over centuries of human life on mountainous island terrain in a monsoon climate. The carefully managed coppice woodlands on the hillsides, the villages strung along the base of the hills, and the carefully tended paddy fields of rural Japan made possible the sustainable interaction of nature and humans. Radical changes in the middle of the twentieth century led to the abandonment of satoyama landscapes which now are being rediscovered. There is a new realization that these woodlands still play a vital role in the management of the Japanese landscape and a new determination to manage them for the future. This multifaceted book explores the history, nature, biodiversity, current conservation measures, and future uses of satoyama. The information presented here will be of interest in all parts of the world where patterns of sustainable development are being sought.
