In the age of urbanisation, we see a rapid transformations in our lifestyles . If we look at this transition on the timeline of human existence on earth, the change has been too abrupt for our surroundings to adapt to. In this generation fuelled by technology, development has been led by the advances in science. To the greater extent , it has been positive but a lack of holistic thinking has led to us to some adverse mistakes, which we as human have committed. A profit oriented economic development has unleashed environmental disasters that haunts mankind now. It is astonishing to see that even after so many advances in sciences, our inclination towards a harmonious lifestyle with nature seems very little against the knowledge of our ancestors.
Species have an intrinsic instinct to modify their environment to best suit to their requirements. There is nothing bad about this because such modification usually blend harmoniously into the natural surroundings and often other species benefit from these changes. Beavers build huge dams which shelter a range of other species too. Usually a symbiotic relationship would develop over time and this would led to a very complex system of interdependencies among species.We humans have affected our environment to an extent which no other species has attempted but our incomplete knowledge of this complex system has caused much trouble. But what is the extent of our understanding of these systems. What understanding had our ancient forefathers gained which helped us survive through millennia. They must have developed some sustainable practices which we are overlooking today.
Today these are the questions which are guiding ecologists and environmentalists in finding sustainable solutions to some of the greatest problems of our times. People have started looking back to solve the challenges of the future and some of the solutions are being found in the traditional knowledge and practices that have developed in different placed and have fused into the cultures of those place over time. Such a model of sustainable living is SATOYAMA.
Satoyama in the literal sense means the place where the mountains and plains converge. The word 'Satoyama' was first introduced in the 1700s and signified a type of landscape. However over the years this term has gained a cultural-environmental aspect to it. A Satoyama landscape in set in the foothills of a mountains and has been engineered by humans to meet their need while it retained its inherent natural aspects. A Satoyama landscape generally consists of lowlands that were used for cultivation and are surrounded by Satoyama woodlands.
These woodlands are essential to satoyma and serve many functions. These would generally have a variety of trees, each serving its own purpose . Fast growing bamboos would serve as construction material and would shield the settlements below from wildlife. Pine trees would provide firewood and the fallen leaves compost for the lands. Oak trees would be grown whose logs would be used later to grow a premium Japanese vegetable , Shitake Mushrooms . Apart from the material bounties , these forests regulate the flow of water in the river systems of satoyama. The excessive rainwater in the spring season would be absorbed by the woodlands and would slowly release through the summer months. Over the years even the wildlife has adapted to the satoyama system. Many insects and animals have oriented their spawning cycles with the agricultural cycles of satoyama. The water filled rice fields would be a sancturary for a variety of fishes and insects. The satoyama practices were not only sustainable but created highly aesthetic landscapes too as shown in the figure below.
Apart from these practices, there are numerous practices that make satoyama unique. Even today many satoyama households have a system of delivering pure water from the head waters of springs. The water is channelled through as system of canals and pipes directly into the house. These house have a kabata, a place designated for washing utensils and vegetables. The kabata has a pool having carp fish in which the washing is done. The carp, being bottom feeders filter through the food waste and purify the water leaving the household, cleaning the water off harmful bacteria. Such practices truly reflect the spirit of satoyama.
The water leaving the households is so pure that koi fishes can be seen swimming in these water channels. Such a harmony and respect for nature cannot exist until the lifestyle has imbibes into the culture of the people. Such an earth centred spirituality is something unique to the eastern cultures and can be throughout all eastern civilisation. It is the deep philosophy of respect for the nature in the eastern philosophies , that gets reflected in the life styles of the people.
It is essential for any community to never forget the traditional practices of their place. These practices developed over millennia and have been tested by generations. Some of these practices, even though a bit irrelevant today , can still be a source of inspiration for a sustainable lifestyle. However things satoyama is seeing a decline today. The advent of the Green Revolution in Japan post world war 2 saw a decline in the satoyama landscape. The woodlands are vital to Satoyama and require regular care from the people. As the need for natural fertilizers and firewood for fuel reduced , these woodlands went into despair, some of them beyond the point of repair. Some of them fell prey to the rapid modernisation and were converted into housing societies and industries. Another problem was an ageing population in the satoyama regions. The younger generations were drawn towards the cities and these regions have seen depopulation ever since world war 2. Even though at a time the future of Satoyama seemed doomed, groups of volunteers have taken initiative to revive the practices of Satoyama.
An international initiative has been launched in Japan for the revival of Satoyama and has found support of the Japanese people and their government. Studies are now being conducted by the United Nations and many Japanese Universities on a Satoyama Model has fulfils the needs of the Modern society.
The model has been briefly explained by the figure below.
The United Nations Environment Programme has commented
Japan’s ancient culture and legendary technological innovation has given the world many things. But perhaps in many ways Satoyama may prove to be among the most important exports of Japan to a world still searching for sustainability
I believe that practices like Satoyama will be adopted across to globe and I hope that we leave behind a better world for the generations to come.
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