A Report on the Management of Vegetation in Satoyama (Rural Forests) by Citizen Participation

Abstract

The vegetation of Satoyama (coppice forest, rural forest, summergreen secondary forest) in Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture, was managed by citizen participation for the purpose of restoring the original physiognomy of the forest and keeping the richness of species in the forest. Three stands of 100m2 were set in the forest which were identified with Quercetum variabili-serratae (Quercus serrata - Quercus variabili sforest). About 13 persons studied the vegetation of a stand from a phylosociological point of view and managed the vegetation by cutting lucidophyllos shrubs and bamboo grasses. The time required was about three hours.