Notes on the premises forests (Yashiki-rin) in the rural areas of the Kanto plain, central Japan : as a milestone on the road for regional environment study

Human life interactions with trees are among the most significant factors of environmental development in Japan. However, the relationships have been progressively weakened after the rapid economic growth period. This report focuses on the forests planted around farmhouses,"premises forests (yashiki-rin)", describing the multifaceted linkages between them. Firstly, the concept of premises forests and their historical evolution are examined. Although the areas of premises forests are decreasing due to rural labour shortage and/or changing life style since the high economic growth era, there is a need of the reevaluation of their roles in the future. Secondly, the regional characteristics of premises forests with their landscapes and roles were compared in six prefectures, and also taking the Saitama prefecture as an example, their real states with associated elements (including some photographs and figures) were recorded from the history of 43 cities, towns and villages. They were classified into west and east and into alluvial lowlands and diluvial uplands