Transition of Land cover and Land Management in Plateau Areas

Abstract

We analyzed transition of human impacts in rural area including various types of agricultural land-use.Land-use and land-cover changes were identified using aerial photographs from 1947, 1974 and 2000. We clarified land management practices at each land-covers by interview with local residents. As a result, in 1947, annual farm work hours per 10a on paddy fields, upland fields and woodland exceed ten hours. Human impacts have been covered over the whole area. In 2000, land management on woodland and unconsolidated Yatsu paddy fields was abandoned, but intensive land management was continued at seedling fields and orchard.