Case studies in paddy field satoyama neighborhood landscape complex units: Nyu district

This chapter discusses the case study of Nyu District, Taki Town, Mie Prefecture, as a Satoyama neighborhood complex unit type. Nyu District is located in Satochi-Satoyama and occupied by 55 forest and 18 % farmland. The current population is about 1,000 people. It is located in the watershed of the Kushida River, a primary river, though there are branch rivers and the Tachibai water channel that introduce water from Kushida River to the area. The villagers have a high interest in the landscape and ecology of the site and a strong network of the local community, whose locally organized volunteer group actively manages the environment. In recent years, however, this village has been dealing with an increase in abandoned farmland and dilapidation of forests. As a consequence, this chapter discusses a method for managing the Satochi-Satoyama environment in context of depopulation and aging from the viewpoint of landscape management labor accounts.