• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture International Edition
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• no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2001

One of the major environmental issues Japanese cities is now facing with is the conservation of seminatural landscapes for the restoration of ecological integrity of urban areas. The satoyama landscape, which includes coppice woodlands, agricultural areas and rural settlements, is seen as an indispensable semi-natural landscape, formed as a result of man-nature interaction. However, because of the loss of the economic viability they are now abandoned and in the process of losing their ecological values. Today a number of local municipalities as well as NPO groups are involved in the conservation projects of these landscapes. Although satoyama landscapes are commonly believed to have maintained their character over the years, historical studies have revealed that these landscapes have experienced constant and dynamic changes due to a variation in human impacts. It is therefore understood that the conservation projects on satoyama landscapes should not intend to restore their past condition, but should wet the goal of maintaining their dynamic character by promoting ecological roles which the landscapes may play in the contemporary world. EXPO2005 project in Aichi Prefecture is a good example of a development project underway on satoyama landscapes which intend to conserve the landscapes by stimulating contemporary ecological for them. In EXPO2005 project the key issue was the conservation of semi-natural landscapes formed by constant and intensive human impacts over the centuries and thus allowing endemic and endangered species to be accommodated. The planning team proposed a scheme to restore economic viability of satoyama landscapes. The scheme involves re-introducing intensive human impacts through a new management system with an innovative technology. This may restore the economic viability of lumbers provided form satoyama woodlands. EXPO2005 is understood as a model case which stimulates contemporary ecological functions of satoyama landscapes by applying innovative planning concepts.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.135-145
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• 2012

Traditional village forests called Dangsan forests and Bibo forests in Korea represent an unique cultural landscape with a history of more than several hundred years. Feng-shui forest in China, Satoyama and Shinto shrine forest in Japan are recognized internationally as 'traditional ecological landscapes'. Dangsan forests and Bibo forests have been preserved through generations in the villages, and are no less valuable than Feng-shui forest, and Satoyama. However, the names of Dangsan forest and Bibo forest have not been well recognized worldwide. Dangsan forest in Seoseong-ri, Wando-gun is located on a mountain slope at a riparian forest. It consists of an evergreen broadleaf forest and Carpinus laxiflora forest. The characteristics of Dangsan forest in Seoseong-ri could be found at 10 sacrifice offering places. Two Dangsan trees on the coastal area are included in the sacrifice offering places. Cultural heritage can retain their value when they are fully sustained. Additional construction, demolition or modification should be banned. Furthermore, all means must be taken to facilitate the preservation of monuments and the value and meanings pertaining to them should not be distorted. In a respect of authenticity, Dangsan forest in Seoseong-ri, Wando-gun seems to have original Dangsan culture based on animism with a philosophic background, where a religious service for the mountain god is held at rock of mountain god, and Dangsan ritual is held at shrine on January 8 at 4:00 am by lunar calendar. Relating to the conservation and management of cultural heritage in international discussion, the importance is that whether there is sustainability on the right to the enjoyment of cultural heritage. Dangsan forest in Seoseong-ri is leaved alone to the public. The forest need a social mechanism to support the recovery of deformed shrine and to heighten public awareness of Dangsan forest in order to claim the value as a unique traditional ecological landscape in Korea.