Tomoki TAKADA

The decline in the use of semi-natural grasslands in Japan and the problem of a lack of management players have led to a need for sustainable maintenance and management measures. Based on the current status and issues of each grassland, it is important to identify items of value for the continued use of current semi-natural grasslands. In this study, a field survey was conducted in the Tomine Kogen in Kamikawa Town, Hyogo Prefecture, in order to clarify the changes in ownership, management, and utilization of the Tomine Kogen from the early Meiji period to the present. The research was carried out from April to November 2022, while belonging to the Tomine Nature Exchange Centre as an intern student, through literature review, data collection, interviews, and action research. Based on the survey results, it became clear that there are four periods in the Tomine Kogen as a community co-managed space for maintenance and utilization. (1) a period when the area was used as a traditional Japanese commons; (2) a period when regional joint use exists; (3) a period when land use declined; And (4) a period when visitor-oriented events were activated. These results are important insights in considering sustainable management and use strategies for the Tonomine Kogen in the future.