Dynamic Interplay of Culture, Nature, and Industry: Unraveling the Historical Non-Equilibrium Mosaic of Demarcation Woody Plant Diversity in Upland Field Landscapes of Eastern Japan

In agricultural landscapes, spatiotemporal heterogeneity of land use significantly shaped by non-crop vegetation plays an important role in biodiversity conservation. We investigated the species composition of farmland demarcation woody plants in eastern Japan and their historical and cultural significance. Information from different disciplines on themes such as plant distribution, local uses and practices, and records in early modern documents suggest that Deutzia crenata, the most widely and abundantly planted species at present, has been prevalent since the early modern period (1600–1868). Various local uses of D. crenata such as the use of its wood to make funeral staffs and festival flutes, the use of its leaves as a fertilizer in agriculture, and the use of the living plant through its phenology as an indicator of crop timing, indicate its cultural significance throughout the region. Viburnum sieboldii var. obovatifolium and Weigela coraeensis had a narrower regional distribution in the northern areas. Industrial uses such as raw silk production influenced the distribution of Morus sp. Our study underscores the interplay of culture, nature, and industry in dynamically shaping the regional composition of demarcation woody plants. It also highlights the importance of a historical ecology approach to evaluating multifaceted aspects of the demarcation woody plants in understanding and conserving traditional agricultural landscapes.