URBANIZATION AND GREENERY CONSERVATION POLICY IN YACHIYO CITY, CHIBA PREFECTURE

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to make clear the aspects of urbanization and greenery conservation policy, especially the woodland preservation project by the greenery conservation ordinance of the Yachiyo municipal government, and the landowners, response to the situation in Yachiyo City situated in Tokyo's suburban area, Chiba prefecture. The results obtained are summarized as follows. Urbanization front has already passed through Yachiyo City and its population growth has been settled, but a great deal of greenery has been lost mainly because of the development of residential districts. Yachiyo municipal government, which is putting emphasis on the improvement of living environment, established “The Ordinance of the Greenery Conservation of Yachiyo City;” in 1975, which attempts to preserve these remaining private woodlands in the built-up area. Now, 15.6 percent (57 sites, about 24. 1 hectares) of the total woodlands which remain in the urbanization promotion area within the city planning district, has been designated as “Environmental Conservation Woodland” by the ordinance. To these designated woodland owners, the government pays for the maintenance expenses. But the municipal property tax and the urban planning tax of these areas have been rising, due to the increasing land value. In order to overcome these difficulties, almost all woodland owners (farmers) hope to cancel these designated contracts and to change it either to farmland whose tax is much lower or to a parking area which can earn cash income. In order to preserve the remaining woodlands in the built-up area positively for the future, the municipal government either has to purchase these lands or has to put more strict restrictions on the land use by applying the “Urban Open Space Conservation Law” enforced in 1974, or some other people have to purchase these lands by the institution of “National Trust”. In any case, in the present situation, it seems almost impossible for the budget of the municipality to purchase these expensive woodlands.