Time-Series Analysis of Farmland Conversion and its Locational Features in Machida City, Tokyo

Abstract

Conservation of urban farmland has become more significant in recent years. In this study, we conducted a time-series analysis of farmland conversion and its locational features using Machida City in Tokyo as a case. The results showed that a higher ratio of farmland conversion was observed in the past (1974-1989) when it locates in rich-green areas, while the farmlands in less-green areas became more vulnerable in recent years (2007-2017). This meant that the concentration of urban development had been moved gradually from peri-urban frontiers to inner cores due to the shift towards current development trends associated with the planning theories (e.g., compact city, re-urbanization). Urban farmlands in inner core areas should be conserved as the priority since they could be rare open spaces contributing to urban sustainability in a dense environment.