Changes in Landscape Structure in a Rural Area of Boso Peninsula, Central Japan

Landscape structure and land use history were clarified based on the old maps in the Boso Peninsula, central Japan. Landscape map dated around the 1880s was created through modification of old maps and landscape map from the 1980s was made based on actual vegetation maps. Natural vegetation of this area was evergreen broad leaved forest. Around the 1880s, evergreen coniferous forest composed of Pinus densiflora and deciduous broad leaved forest composed of Q. serrata were dominant together with many patches of grassland found on the Boso Peninsula. Prior to the 1960s, grassland products were used for several traditional purposes such as fertilizer or roofing material; shrubs were used for fuel and litter for compost. After the 1960s, these areas were abandoned due to the lack of need for traditional use. Some abandoned vegetated areas changed into late succession stages, others were changed to artificial land use. Areas of forest vegetation in the 1980s increased comparing to the 1880s. The species composition of forests on former forested areas reflected the intensity of disturbance by residential people.