Vegetational Evaluation for Future Designation of Natural Monuments of Shrine and Temple Forests in Osaka Prefecture

Abstract

We investigated the number of natural monument designations by municipality and field, and evaluated valuable shrine and temple forests that should be designated in the future in municipalities where the number of designations is low, in Osaka prefecture. The results revealed that the number of designated natural monuments is unevenly distributed by municipality and that the designation rate of plant communities is lower than that of individual plants. In addition, 5 of the 13 shrine and temple forests not designated as natural monuments were recognized as having value from three perspectives: the presence of scientifically valuable plant community, the degree of forest development, and naturalness and species diversity.