Recently, in the Japanese suburban farmland, a number of civil activities are being developed for the improvement of rural environment. Although these activities are slightly different from managements by farmers, they are promoting the appropriate use and conservation of farmland for the sustainable management of common natural resources. In this study, the mechanism of the formation and the innate character of the social activities are analyzed by the comparison with a traditional theory of commons research focusing on farmlands of Minuma locating in Saitama Prefecture.
Firstly, the nature of traditional commons was researched by literature reviews. Under the reign of traditional commons, there were local rules for the use of natural resources, and it contributed to the collaboration of local people and the sustainable management of the whole regional area. On the other hand, most of the current Japanese suburbs do not equip the traditional commons system, and cannot attain the sustainable use of local resources.
Secondly, the characteristics of current civil activities are analyzed through hearing surveys and field works. The civil activities which developed around the farmlands have nearly the same efficiency with the market system and the management system of natural resources induced by the traditional commons. However, in terms of the sustainable use of local resources, they are completely different from that of traditional commons, and they are characterized as ‘open-access’, ‘intermittent management’, ‘rational cooperation’, ‘multiple organization’, and so on.
Finally, the social meaning and future issues of the civil activities are discussed through the comparison with the mechanism of traditional commons and the hearing surveys to the local farmers. This study concludes that the formation of the nonmarket economy based on a free labor and land enables the civil activities to keep the ability for social services and management of natural resources. However, because of their purposes, they cannot resolve the farmers' problems such as stagnation of profitability of their business, and most of the farmers do not participate in the activities. For the development of the activities, it would be necessary to facilitate the partnerships between urban residents and farmers considering the importance of the farmers' current issue.
