Jerry Eades & Malcolm Cooper Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan

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1 Jerry Eades & Malcolm Cooper Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan

2 What is the future of agricultural heritage sites? How far will they be maintained or transformed in future? And what is the meaning of heritage, or historical or tradition All of these terms are socially constructed and contested

3 In this paper we argue that the maintenance and future of agricultural heritage sites will be determined by the interplay of four sets of factors Environment Population Capitalism (especially agriculture) The State

4 How do sites acquire history and tradition? They become important for particular groups of people And this can be for various reasons Scientific Economic Cultural/Aesthetic

5 Scientific reasons Biological importance Biodiversity Rare or endangered species Biophysical importance Maintenance of water supplies Carbon storage Prevention of erosion

6 Economic reasons Commercial Production of local foods vegetables, meats, cheese, wine, olive oil, fish Production of local handicrafts textiles, woodwork, metalwork, baskets Tourist sights Landscapes: hills, mountains, waterfalls Symbolic vegetation: cherry blossom, autumn leaves Tourist accommodation Minshuku in Japan Gîtes in France

7 Cultural and aesthetic reasons Nostalgia Japanese furusato England s Green and Pleasant Land Traditional building styles/materials Thatched roofs Wooden beams Historic buildings Castles and fortifications Temples & churches Stately homes

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12 Two major factors at work since 1800 Demographic transition Longer expectation of life Lower birthrate and smaller families Aging societies Changing role of rural areas Rural hinterland for the peasants Country homes for the aristocracy Homes for the affluent commuters

13 England Enormous population increase since 1800 Mechanization of agriculture Rapid urbanization in 19 th rural-urban migration century Massive car ownership since 1945 suburban and rural commuters Gentrification of the countryside

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15 France Maintenance of traditional agriculture (wine, cheese, etc.) New varieties and technologies Global companies and markets Maintenance of traditional villages Influx of foreign tourists Second home and retirement market Abandonment of depopulated areas to national and regional parks Ecotourism Outdoor sports

16 French population expected to expand, gradually stabilize round 2050

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22 Japan Rapid modernization after 1868 Rapid urbanization after 1945 Rural outmigration Concentration in cities Decline of rural production Decay of satoyama landscapes Encroachment of the wild Ageing and declining population Revitalization or abandonment of rural areas? Depends on transport infrastructure

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28 Australia Early urbanization Second most urbanized country after UK by 1900 Population still expanding Continued immigration Gradual colonization of the outback Mining, Agriculture Mixed symbolism of rural landscapes Aboriginal outback with unique flora/fauna Imported and reinvented European tradition, e.g. wine

29 Australian population expected to expand, but various scenarios

30 The buildings

31 The Landscape

32 Note the Mediterranean appearance of the logo

33 And the traditional bottle design

34 Environment England densely populated Population stable Rural areas continue, functions change France less densely populated Population stable or growing Rural areas divided between maintenance of traditional production and abandonment to wilderness, ecotourism, leisure

35 Environment Japan sparsely populated mountains, large cities Population ageing, declining Similar division in rural areas to that of France? Cultivation vs wilderness Australia Population growing Continued colonization of the outback Rural landscapes divided between European tradition and Aboriginal wilderness

36 Capitalism Broadly the same multinationals are operating in all four countries Different countries, different industries and specialization Tradition is marketed in rural areas of all four countries The variations lie in the ways in which the rural areas are being populated or depopulated, and how far big industries are involved in traditional production

37 The State Keeping the balance between modernity and tradition Keeping the balance between urban sprawl and maintenance of the countryside Keeping the balance between immigration and interests of local population Keeping the balance between local economy, and the spread of transnationals

38 Results? England capitalist agriculture rural gentrification by commuters France some capitalist agriculture, plus smallholder production some abandonment, some commuting, gentrification by tourists Japan smallholder agriculture in decline abandonment, tourism taking off, little gentrification population decline Australia agricultural colonization still in progress images of gentrification in traditional industries, such as wine vs the appeal of the Outback

39 Results? Major factors in redevelopment of the countryside Revenue stream jobs, tourism, subsidies, investment Population rising, falling or static? Desire to live in the countryside Proximity to urban settlements, transport infrastructure Ideology of wanting to live in the countryside, for aesthetic nostalgic reasons