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Esthetic and spiritual values motivating collective action for the conservation of cultural landscape—A case study of rice terraces in Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2012

Pia R. Kieninger ,
Marianne Penker  and
Eiji Yamaji
Pia R. Kieninger*
Affiliation:
Institute of Integrative Nature Conservation Research, Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Strasse 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
Marianne Penker
Affiliation:
Institute of Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Feistmantelstrasse 4, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
Eiji Yamaji
Affiliation:
Department of International Studies, Division of Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, 277-8653 Kashiwa City, Japan.
*
*Corresponding author: kieninger.pia@gmail.com
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Abstract

Japan's rice terrace landscapes are not only used for food production but also appreciated as a place of high biocultural value. This paper pursues the question as to how far esthetic and spiritual values influence the motivation to participate in collective agricultural actions aiming at the conservation of traditional land use systems, the respective cultural (= traditional rural) landscapes and their biocultural diversity. Our results show that in the Ownership System of Ōyamasenmaida (Chiba Prefecture, Japan) landscape beauty is the main motivator for the mainly urban volunteers (the ‘tenants’) to participate in activities of the local Preservation Association, as well as for visitors who merely come to enjoy the scenery of the rice terraces. The active tenants, however, differ from the ‘passive’ visitors in their ecological interest and emotional attachment to the area. Interestingly, there is also a difference regarding the belief in nature spirits. A higher percentage of people who can imagine that such spirits are always present have been found among the tenants than among the visitors. Even more significant in this respect was the difference between female tenants and female visitors. To what extent spirituality is the cause for or an effect of involvement in nature conservation activities cannot be concluded from this survey. Future studies should therefore take a closer look at the connection between spirituality/religiosity and engagement in nature conservation activities. In Western countries (mainly in Central Europe or North America), nature conservation works on a more ‘scientific’ level, mobilizing engagement through scientific evidence on, for example, losses of species or biodiversity. Addressing the motivations of the volunteers on an emotional, esthetic or social level could be a promising way forward.

Keywords

estheticsbiocultural diversitycollective actionconservation of traditional rural landscapemotivationŌyamasenmaida (Chiba Prefecture, Japan)rice terracessatoyamaspiritualityTanada Ownership System
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , December 2013 , pp. 364 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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