Study on growth management and use of the Coastal Forest in the Japanese early modern period

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00875
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: KIKUCHI Keiko (柳谷慶子) 東北学院大学, 文学部, 教授 (00258782)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 海岸林 / クロマツ / 仙台湾岸 / 防災林 / 松葉の利用 / 生態系 / 海辺の里山 / 海岸林の歴史

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Most coastal forests growing on the sandy beaches of the Japanese archipelago are planted forests. They were planted in the early modern period, and have been expanded in the modern and contemporary periods. They have a history of coexisting with people, performing various public functions as well as disaster prevention and disaster mitigation in coastal areas. Therefore, in order to understand the realities of the process of afforestation, growth management and utilisation, relevant historical documents were collected and examined. In addition, information on local life and livelihoods was collected through interviews.
It became clear that whether or not the forests reach maturity on a broad scale after planting is related to clan policies, environmental factors such as topography and local livelihoods. The greatest benefit of the Coastal Forests is the supply of pine needles for fuel. Various methods of collecting pine needles were found in different parts of the country.

Free Research Field

日本近世史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

海岸林は公益的機能を担う保安林として位置付けられているが、その実態を歴史的に検討する試みは一部の地域（山形県庄内地方など）を除いて十分ではない。主木のクロマツは砂浜海岸で生長可能な唯一の高木として選ばれていたが、潮害・飛砂害に対応する機能だけでなく、農用資材や燃料資源、建築材を供給するなど、暮らしを守る多様な役割を期待されて育生され、維持管理されてきた年月がある。その様相を明らかにすることは、人と自然の共生関係が成立し存続してきた歴史を映しだすものとなる。自然生態系を活用した防災・減災の実践を進める上でも、歴史の照射に基づいた長期的な視点をもつことは有用である。