Abstract
There are 175 pastoral associations in the Aso District, and each of them has managed its ranges (including semi-natural grassland, sown pasture and forest) by burning, grazing or mowing. However, there have been many cases where grassland burning has been discontinued or its area reduced. Therefore, on the basis of data obtained by questionnaires distributed to pastoral associations in Aso and the circumstances in which firebreaks were made, we analyzed the factors associated with discontinuation or areal reduction of grassland burning, and the following conclusions were made : (1) There is a general shortage of labor, and the associations with more serious labor shortages have reduced the area subjected to burning. (2) Although the degree of worker aging has not affected the reduction of the burned area, the average age of the workers in the associations carrying out grassland burning has exceeded 50 years. and this is a serious problem. (3) Scattering of srrasslands due to the increase in forests is not generally a factor having a direct effect on discontinuation of burning. (4) In larger-scale associations with a higher proportion of semi-natural grassland, burning has continued. (5) In smaller-scale associations with a higher proportion of sown pasture, there have been many cases of discontinuation or areal reduction of grassland burning.
