Satoyama : the traditional rural landscape of Japanwith

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. Front Matter....Pages II-XI Ideological Contribution of Satoyamas....Pages 1-7 The Nature of Satoyama Landscapes....Pages 9-39 Satoyama Landscape Transition....Pages 41-79 Biological Diversity in Satoyama Landscapes....Pages 81-109 Approaches to Satoyama Conservation....Pages 111-147 Biological Resources....Pages 149-178 Long-term Strategy for Satoyama Conservation....Pages 179-208 Back Matter....Pages 209-229