9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
[HCG19-03] Izu City’s Conservation Policy: Traditional Wasabi Cultivation in Shizuoka(GIAHS)
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), Wasabi, Izu
The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) is an international protection and accreditation system established in 2002 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The goal of this system is “a unique traditional agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry that has been passed down for generations while adapting to society, the environment, the culture, the landscape and the seascape that were closely related to it”. Traditional Wasabi Cultivation in Shizuoka, which has been performed for 400 years, was certified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in March 2018. Wasabi is a traditional condiment that is essential to sushi, sashimi, buckwheat noodles, and many other traditional Japanese dishes. The environment suitable for wasabi cultivation is an environment with stable water temperatures of around 13°C throughout the year, shallow water depth, and an abundance of dissolved oxygen. Therefore, wasabi cultivation has been performed by making the best use of spring waters in mountainous regions. The first method of wasabi cultivation was called the “Tatamiishi style developed in the latter half of the 19th century, when engineers in the Izu region made use of the abundant spring waters.With the certification of Traditional Wasabi Cultivation in Shizuoka as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site there are increased expectations for the conservation of the Wasabi fields, the culture, landscape, biodiversity, etc., in addition to the formation of regional brands and the promotion of tourism, particularly green tourism. However, there are also challenges facing wasabi cultivation, namely the abandonment of wasabi fields which is increasing due to the shortage of successors. In addition, the supply of wasabi seedlings has become unstable due to the aging of wasabi seedling producers and the lack of successors. Furthermore, in recent years, several disasters have struck. There has been damage caused to agricultural facilities in wasabi fields by storms, inflow of water and sediment into wasabi fields due to heavy rains, and landslides in forests and wasabi fields.Izu City has formulated the “Izu Wasabi Village Concept” in order to achieve both regional development and the conservation of wasabi fields, which were designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site. “Izu City Wasabi Township Village Concept” is planned in collaboration with wasabi farmers, and it can be one of the models of measures for the World Agricultural Heritage. This study analyzed the conservation policies of the agricultural system of “Traditional Wasabi Cultivation in Shizuoka” as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site from the formulation stage of the “Izu City Wasabi Township Village Concept”. As a result, traditional Wasabi Cultivation in Shizuoka has been designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site, and there are high expectations for tourism promotion utilizing wasabi. On the other hand, it was suggested that it is necessary to support wasabi production, environmental education to transmit the value of wasabi and environmental conservation.The conservation policies of Traditional Wasabi Cultivation in Shizuoka ranged from production promotion measures to environmental conservation and education measures that support agricultural systems. Future issues requiring attention are the conservation of the abundant nature, the utilization of local resources integrated with wasabi, and the dissemination of information for the conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Notwithstanding, a regional management plan was devised to separate agricultural production from the tourism industry in consideration of the impact on production by visitors.