Traditional Farming Landscapes for Sustainable Living in Scandinavia and Japan: Global Revival Through the Satoyama Initiative

Abstract

Traditional, pre-industrial farming was adapted to the natural environment-topography, geology, hydrology, climate, and biota. Traditional land use systems are still to be traced in Scandinavia as an "infield/outland landscape", and in Japan as a "Satoyama landscape." There are obvious similarities and differences in land use-the main difference being that pasturing of cattle and sheep has been less important in Japan. These land use systems can be traced back to early sedentary settlements 1500-2500 years ago. In both regions, traditional management almost ceased in the mid-twentieth century leading to afforestation and decreased biological diversity. Today, there is in Japan a growing movement for landscape restoration and promotion of a sustainable living countryside based on local agrarian and forestry production, local energy, tourism, etc. With this background, the so-called Satoyama Initiative has been organized and introduced as a global socio-ecological project with ecosystem services for human well-being.

The Characteristics of Five Food Production Systems and Their Implications for Sustainable Landscapes

“…The dynamics of fragile rural economies are at risk, as is the continuing degradation of existing farmland from intensive practices (Das, 2002;Cullather, 2010). As less labour is required on the farm, fewer services are required in rural societies, which contribute to rural depopulation (Hamblin, 2009;Berglund et al, 2014). While a system such as industrial and conventional agriculture employs fewer people and achieves a higher productive capacity, alternative systems and approaches can offer stronger economic credentials.…”

“…In developed countries, the adoption of industrially efficient processes, scientifically proven techniques, and technologically engaged machinery has removed much of the socio-cultural fabric of rural life as rural areas continue to depopulate (Hamblin, 2009;Berglund et al, 2014). There is a risk that socio-cultural issues can be forgotten on ideological grounds in the drive to production efficiency (Hardeman & Jochemsen, 2012).…”

“…Traditional farming systems tend to be structured for social outcomes, supporting a way of life in traditional rural communities; for example for community cohesion in Mexico (Pulido & Bocco, 2003), infusing religion and tradition in Syria (Alhamidi et al, 2003) or with support for a more traditional lifestyle to achieve ecosystem services for human wellbeing in developed countries in Scandinavia and Japan (Berglund et al, 2014). The European Union (EU) for example, encourages farmers to conserve biodiversity by engaging in a minimum five-year program to protect and enhance the environment on their farmland.…”

“…In some developed countries, traditional farming is viewed as a lifestyle choice, often willingly supported with public funds to maintain a "cultural" landscape seen to be in harmony with nature (Berglund et al, 2014). Nevertheless, there is an element of resilience at work with traditional farming systems.…”

The Use of Oral Histories to Identify Criteria for Future Scenarios of Sustainable Farming in the South Yangtze River, China

“…However, the increase in scale and machinery, and the intensive use of chemical fertilizers actually resulted in a nationwide decline of agricultural productivity and increase in imported foods [71], stemming largely from a decreasing and aging farming population and the failure to integrate the liberalisation of the economy with agricultural policies [14]. Over the last 30 years, there have been increasing concerns about the deterioration of its satoyama regions due to the rapid industrialisation and urbanisation following WWII, as well as the under-management and depopulation of farming lands caused by rural-urban migration and aging population [72]. Satoyama regions are very important to Japan as they represent about 43% of Japan's cultivated lands and contribute to 39% of its national agricultural production ( [14], p. 393).…”