This paper looks at the agricultural heritage potential of the tameike reservoirs in Japan,through a case study of the Kunisaki Peninsula,which was recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System(GIAHS)in May,2013.The "tameike" in this area are small scale ponds storing spring water or water flowing through the short and rapid rivers of the area.Tameike construction in Kunisaki is found to be closely associated with the spread of wet rice cultivation and forestry.Most existing reservoirs were built during the Edo Period(1603-1867),and were managed through traditional farming knowhow till the postwar period.However,rapid decline in the use and ecosystem functions of these reservoirs ensued from the years of economic development,and at present,total number of these reservoirs has fallen to nearly one-third,compared to the pre-Meiji time.The GIAHS initiative is trying to reevaluate the ecosystem functions and knowledge systems associated with these reservoirs and link them to rural revitalization efforts.This article is based on both literature survey and field based research with regional coordinators,and comes to the conclusion that proper management of these reservoirs can successfully reinvigorate a culture of resource circulation,that defined the agri-heritage of Kunisaki area in historical times.
Kazem VAFADARI
. Tameike Reservoirs as Agricultural Heritage：From the Case Study of Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita, Japan[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2013
, 4(3)
: 220
-230
.
DOI: 10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2013.03.005
Altieri M A.1999.The ecological role of biodiversity in ecosystems.Agriculture,Ecosystem and Environment,74(1-3):19-31.
American Cancer Society.N.d.Shiitake mushroom.URL at:http://www. cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternat ivemedicine/dietandnutrition/shiitake-mushroom
Barnhill D and Gottlieb R.2001.Deep Ecology and World Religions.State University of New York Press.
Beaulieu LJ and J L Jordan.2013.Developing sustainable agriculture and community.London:Routledge.
Cocks M.2010.What is biocultural diversity?A theoretical review.In:Bates D G and J Tucker(Eds.).Human Ecology:Contemporary Research and Practice.New York:Springer,67-78.
Duraiappah A K,Nakamura K,Takeuchi K,et al.(Eds.).2012.Satoyama Satoumi ecosystems and human well being:Socio-Ecological production landscapes of Japan.Tokyo:UNU Press.
FAO.N.d.GIAHS:Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.URL:http://www.giahs.org/giahs-initiative/en/
Flora C.2001.Interactions between agroecosystems and rural communities (Advances in Agroecology).Bpca Raton:CRC Press.
Gliesmann S R.2000.Agroecosystem sustainability:Developing practical strategies(Advances in Agroecology).Boca Raton:CRC Press.
Hamajima S,Kondo S,TsuchiyamaF,and Masuda Y(Eds.).2001.Nature around Tameike Reservoirs:Flora,Fauna and Landscape.Tokyo:Shinzansha Scitech.(in Japanese)
Hamajima S,Suga H.2005.Illustrated guidebook of tameike reservoirs and rice paddies:Plants.Osaka:Tombo Publications.(in Japanese)
Kawanishi H,Kudo Y.1983.Travels in Kunisaki Peninsula.In:Kunisaki Peninsula:Nature,Society and Education.Oita:University of Oita Education Department Press.(in Japanese)
Lichtfouse E,M Hamelin,M Navarrete and P Debaeke.(Eds.).2011.Sustainable agriculture.Volume 2.New York:Springer.
Matanle P,A Rausch,and the Shrinking Regions Research Group.2011.Japan's shrinking regions in the 21st century.New York:Cambria Press.
Meadows D H and D H Meadows.1972.The limits to growth:A report for the club of Rome's Project on the predicament of mankind.New York:Macmillan.
Meadows D H,J Randers and D Meadows.2004.Limits to growth.White River Junction,Vt:Chelsea Green Pub.Co.
Nakajima M.1999.Stepped rice paddies of Japan:Conservation methods.Tokyo:KokonShoin.(in Japanese)
Nakatani T.1998.A Tale of the RokugoManzan:Travels in the Kunisaki Peninsula.Oita:Oita GodoShinbunsha.(in Japanese)
Oita Prefecture Historical Museum.2009.Research report:Bungo Kunisaki.Oita:Oita Prefecture Historical Museum Press.(in Japanese)
Ethnographic Records of Usa Traditional Area in Oita Prefecture.1998.Special investigation report on Rokugomanzan No 6.Oita:Oita Prefecture Press.(in Japanese)
Oosterveer P and D A Sonnenfeld.2011.Food,globalization and sustainability.London:Routledge.
Peloquin C and F Berkes.2010.Local knowledge and changing subsistence strategies in James Bay,Canada.In:Bates DG and J Tucker(Eds.).Human Ecology:Contemporary Research and Practice.New York:Springer,281-296.
Seki M and Matsunaga K.2011.Agriculture and product-making in mountainous regions.Tokyo:Shinhyoron.
Sekiguchi T.1959.Climatic zones of Japan.Tokyo:Tokyo Kyouiku Daigaku Chirigakukenkyu Houkokusho.(in Japanese)
Senda Akira,1983.Geography of Kunisaki Peninsula.In:Kunisaki Peninsula:Nature,Society and Education.Oita:University of Oita Education Department Press.(in Japanese)
Suenaga M.1947.Pond culture.Osaka:Sogensha.(in Japanese)
Uchida K.2003.Tameike reservoirs in Japan:Hazard control and conservation.Ozu:Kaiseisha.(in Japanese)
UNU-ISP.2011.Sado and Noto designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS).30 June.URL:http://isp.unu. edu/news/2011/sado-noto-farm-methods-listed-as-giahs.html
Wezel A and J-C Jauneau.2011.Agroecology:Interpretations,approaches and their links to nature conservation,rural development and ecotourism.In:Campbell WB and S Lopez-Ortiz(Eds.).Integrating Agriculture,Conservation and Ecotourism:Examples from the Field.New York:Springer,1-26.
