Springer - Satoyama: The Traditional Rural Landscape of Japan

Explore the history of Japan's traditional and fragile satoyama landscape system through this detailed study from Springer. For centuries, humans living on mountainous island terrain in a monsoon climate developed a unique way of life. This book examines how carefully managed coppice woodlands on hillsides, villages at the base of hills, and tended paddy fields created a sustainable way for nature and humans to exist together. As radical changes occurred in the middle of the twentieth century, many satoyama landscapes were abandoned. However, these areas are now being rediscovered. This work looks at the new realization that these woodlands still play a vital role in environmental management. It provides a deep look into the history and the changing state of these rural Japanese landscapes.