The Meaning of 'Nature' in a Conservation Movement

The Case of “Odagahama Anti-Reclamation Movement”

Abstract

This paper focuses on how people recognize 'nature' in a conservation movement which is the “Odagahama anti-reclamation movement” in Imabari, Ehime prefecture. Clearing the meaning of this movement, I distinguish nature of Odagahama from nature so called physical environment, because I consider nature as 'Umwelt' of community in its primitive form.Umwelt has an organized social meaning with the relation of the conduct of community member to the nature. For example, history, culture and custom of its community are such one. Through this discussion, we note, for the people of Odagahama, the nature is remembered as their various experiences. Furthermore, we can see the new comers of this movement interact with their nature of home towns, whether they come from Odagahama, Imabari, Ehime or not.