[pp.139-148]
Mari KAWASE (Kyoto University)
Abstract:
This study evaluated the meaning of “forests” held by young people with respect to the functions served by forests. Surveys were conducted with first-year students (15-16 years old) at a public high school in the city of Kobe, Japan, in December 2008 and again in May 2009. Respondents were asked to prioritize functions of forests, and their answers to questions using the general term “forest” were compared to those using the terms “artificial forest” and “natural forest.” The prioritized functions differed among the types of forest. The students rated functions related to global issues highly for their perception of “forest,” whereas they gave priority to both global interests and economic benefits or benefits to their daily life for “artificial” and “natural” forests.
Key Word:
questionnaire, forest function, artificial forest, natural forest, high school student