Changes in the Social Role of Riverside Space Based on Land Use of the Common Place in the Arakawa River in Oasovillage, Saitama Prefecture

Abstract

In river management, it is important to consider the history and culture of a region, as well as the natural environment of the area. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the history of river usage. In this study, we focused on the common place in riverside space and clarified the history of the social role of riverside space based on land use change.For the survey, we used old pictures and topographic maps. The literature survey ascertained factors of land use change. As a result of the survey,we divided the common place in the target area into three groups: two forests and grassland, according to their land use in the early Meiji Era and altitude. Furthermore, land use change after the Meiji era in the target area differs from these groups. The common place close to the landside was deconstructed, due to the high demand of agricultural development and the influence of infrastructure improvement.Conversely, in the common place near the river way,a forest that was a common place remained until today because of the regulation of agricultural land development and abandoned cultivation.The remaining forest became a nature park, where rare creatures exist and people are in harmony with nature.