Jerry Eades & Malcolm Cooper Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific

University, Beppu, Japan 874-8577

What is the future of agricultural heritage sites?

How far will they be maintained or transformed in future?

And what is the meaning of “heritage”, or “historical” or “tradition”

All of these terms are socially constructed and contested

In this paper we argue that the maintenance and future of agricultural heritage sites will be determined by the interplay of four sets of factors

Environment

Population

Capitalism (especially agriculture)

The State

How do sites acquire history and tradition?

They become important for particular groups of people

And this can be for various reasons Scientific

Economic

Cultural/Aesthetic

Scientific reasons

Biological importance

Biodiversity

Rare or endangered species

Biophysical importance

Maintenance of water supplies

Carbon storage

Prevention of erosion

Economic reasons Commercial

Production of local foods – vegetables, meats, cheese, wine, olive oil, fish

Production of local handicrafts – textiles, woodwork, metalwork, baskets

Tourist sights Landscapes: hills, mountains, waterfalls Symbolic vegetation: cherry blossom, autumn leaves

Tourist accommodation – Minshuku in Japan Gîtes in France

Cultural and aesthetic reasons Nostalgia

Japanese furusato

England’s Green and Pleasant Land

Traditional building styles/materials Thatched roofs

Wooden beams

Historic buildings Castles and fortifications

Temples & churches

Stately homes

Two major factors at work since 1800 Demographic transition

Longer expectation of life

Lower birthrate and smaller families

Aging societies

Changing role of rural areas Rural hinterland for the peasants

Country homes for the aristocracy

Homes for the affluent commuters

England

Enormous population increase since 1800

Mechanization of agriculture

Rapid urbanization in 19th century rural-urban migration

Massive car ownership since 1945 suburban and rural commuters

“Gentrification” of the countryside

France Maintenance of “traditional” agriculture (wine, cheese, etc.) New varieties and technologies Global companies and markets

Maintenance of “traditional” villages Influx of foreign tourists Second home and retirement market

Abandonment of depopulated areas to national and regional parks Ecotourism Outdoor sports

French population expected to expand, gradually stabilize

round 2050 …

Japan Rapid modernization after 1868 Rapid urbanization after 1945

Rural outmigration Concentration in cities

Decline of rural production Decay of satoyama landscapes Encroachment of the wild

Ageing and declining population Revitalization or abandonment of rural areas? Depends on transport infrastructure

Australia Early urbanization

Second most urbanized country after UK by 1900

Population still expanding Continued immigration

Gradual colonization of the outback Mining, Agriculture

Mixed symbolism of rural landscapes Aboriginal outback with unique flora/fauna Imported and reinvented European tradition, e.g. wine

Australian population expected to expand, but various scenarios …

The buildings

The Landscape

Note the Mediterranean appearance of the logo …

And the traditional

bottle design …

Environment

England – densely populated

Population stable

Rural areas continue, functions change

France – less densely populated

Population stable or growing

Rural areas divided between maintenance of “traditional” production and abandonment to wilderness, ecotourism, leisure

Environment Japan – sparsely populated mountains, large cities Population ageing, declining

Similar division in rural areas to that of France? Cultivation vs wilderness

Australia Population growing

Continued colonization of the outback

Rural landscapes divided between European tradition and Aboriginal wilderness

Capitalism Broadly the same multinationals are operating in all four countries

Different countries, different industries and specialization

“Tradition” is marketed in rural areas of all four countries

The variations lie in the ways in which the rural areas are being populated – or depopulated, and how far big industries are involved in “traditional” production

The State

Keeping the balance between modernity and “tradition”

Keeping the balance between urban sprawl and maintenance of the countryside

Keeping the balance between immigration and interests of local population

Keeping the balance between local economy, and the spread of transnationals

Results? England capitalist agriculture rural gentrification by commuters

France some capitalist agriculture, plus smallholder production some abandonment, some commuting, gentrification by tourists

Japan smallholder agriculture in decline abandonment, tourism taking off, little gentrification population decline

Australia agricultural colonization still in progress images of gentrification in “traditional” industries, such as wine vs the appeal of the Outback

Results? Major factors in redevelopment of the countryside Revenue stream – jobs, tourism, subsidies, investment

Population – rising, falling or static? Desire to live in the countryside Proximity to urban settlements, transport infrastructure

Ideology of wanting to live in the countryside, for aesthetic nostalgic reasons