Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clear the land use characteristics based on watershed analysis and deliberate historical methods of sustainable land use in Babeldaob Island in the Republic of Palau. The following three points were clarified. 1) From the perspective of 'change', comparing the location and number of villages between 1920's and 2006, thirty seven villages are still existing, twenty eight villages were disappeared and eight villages are new. 2) From the perspective of 'structure', the village type, which locates in the valley along the river, also adjacent to mangrove is typical one. Besides, the small watershed composes the fundamental structure of village. 3) From the perspective of 'function', mosaic land use, corresponding with the differences of the geological formation, and hierarchical land use in agroforest for multi-functions are identified. Therefore formation of village along the ecosystem order from upper stream to coast, and horizontal and vertical diversity of land use of village could be considered as important factors of sustainability in the island.
