Traditional Agricultural Landscape as ail Important Model of Ecological Restoration in Japan

Abstract

The traditional Japanese agricultural landscape, In which a set of varied land-use patches functions as a sustainable ecosystem landscape unit, not only provides the local people tilth a stable food supply, but also offers a variety of habitats to many species of wildlife. Therefore, remaining natural habitats including those in the traditional agricultural landscape should be maintained whenever possible. In addition, restoration work should be implemented in areas where the natural habitat has been destroyed or severely degraded by human activities. This basic approach to the natural environment is a combination of maintenance and restoration. Types of maintenance and restoration can be classified into three categories according to the countermeasures employed: preservation, conservation and protection types of maintenance, and improvement, reconstruction and creation types of restoration. Four steps are proposed for ecological restoration and maintenance of a target area: exploration, diagnosis, prescription and care. In this process, a model for approaching the goal is important. One of the most important models should center on the traditional agricultural landscape involving a sustainable farming ecosystem. It is necessary to protect traditional landscapes and ecosystems from the degrading impact of urbanization and industrialization, as well as to enhance efforts at restoration.