Nature

Nanbu Town is said to lie at the boundary of ecosystems that stretch east and west across Mount Daisen and the Hino River. The town exhibits characteristics of the ecosystem found on the western side of Mount Daisen.

Nanbu Town in Tottori Prefecture has been designated as an Important Satoyama Area by the Ministry of the Environment. Satoyama refer to regions where human life and nature have coexisted over a long period, fostering unique ecosystems and cultures. In Nanbu Town, traditional rice fields, forests, and rivers are interconnected, creating landscapes rich in diverse flora and fauna. The wisdom and cultural practices of the satoyama are still deeply rooted, and the lives of the people and nature are mutually protected.

In 2023, the environment surrounding the Shimonakaya settlement in Nanbu Town was certified as a "Nanbu Satoyama Biotope" under the Satoyama Conservation Program. In 2025, it was registered in the international database as an OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures).

The rice field biotope is a new way of utilizing rice fields by managing them extensively while maintaining traditional agricultural practices.

In the transforming rural mountain villages, cultivating rice in headwater regions with limited water resources was challenging. Nanbu Town has approximately 200 ponds scattered throughout, which have been used to secure agricultural water. Today, these ponds have become characteristic features of Nanbu Town's ecosystem.

In the mountainous villages, tatara (iron smelting) was once practiced. Iron was produced using wood cut from the mountains and sand iron extracted from sand. Even today, remnants of tatara, such as slag and scrap iron, can be found in rice fields. Tatara villages that flourished during the Meiji period have transformed into rural mountain villages due to changes in industrial structures.

In Nanbu Town, there was once a tradition of eating carp. Carp were raised in rice fields and ponds and used as a valuable protein source. However, the predation and release of carp can impact the ecosystem, disrupting the balance of native fish and aquatic plants. Therefore, management is required to protect biodiversity while respecting local traditions.