“Sato-model” escaping from Global Warming in mountainous region – A challenge of a small village to share nature-based community among wide-ranged people
Mountainous region of Japan has seen drastic population decrease in the last half century. As a result, large cities have accumulated most of population and industries. However, the Higashinihon Earthquake indicates how danger such concentrating national system is and Global Warming will not allow large scale energy consumption which has supported concentration. It is important to start population movement from urban to rural and to create basic circulating area of energy and resources.
Our project started by setting up a field research laboratory in Yasaka-chou 3 years ago. Our researchers have taken experimental roles as wide-ranged connecters among local people and government, and started several project such as small business creation and local energy development. In mountainous region, resources and houses scatter in small scales. Therefore, it is essential to produce a social hub that link local people and resources across many fields and industries within basic circulating area, which is considered the significant condition for energy self-sufficiency and population inflow of mountainous region.
Project Participant
- (industry) The Limited Liability Partnership for West Chugoku Wood Energy
- (local government) Hamada City
- (university) The University of Shimane, Okayama University
- (citizen) Yasaka Ward(Hamada City), Yasaka Lab
