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Abstract |
The changes in the landscape are caused by the economic and social forces of the early 19th century and particularly of the 20th century (Matej M., Frantisek P., 2013). The community of Nezasa (Pleioblastus yoshidake) and Susuki (Miscanthus sinensis) plants forming the typical semi-natural grasslands of Japan used to cover approximately 10% of the land of Japan until the 1930s. The semi-natural grasslands have been managed by local agricultural activities such as controlled burning, mowing and pasturage for over 1000 years, but recently, due to the decline in the livestock industry and the gradually aging population, the landscape management of semi-natural grasslands has become increasingly difficult. The loss of semi-natural grasslands, which have decreased to less than 3% of the national land has become a key issue. In the Second National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan, the Japanese government designated such landscape crisis as Crisis 2, which is “the degradation of Satochi-satoyama (rural landscapes formed by sustainable use of natural resources) due to insufficient level of management”.(Ministry of the Environment, 2012). But recently, due to the decline in the livestock industry and the gradually aging population, the landscape management of semi-natural grasslands has become increasingly difficult. The loss of semi-natural grasslands, which have decreased to less than 3% of the national land has become a key issue. |
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