Awareness and Expectations of Comprehensive Forest Management Advisors （Foresters） among Municipalities

Results of Covariance Structure Analysis

Abstract

We conducted a postal questionnaire survey of the forestry divisions of 1,615 municipalities nationwide in Japan in order to examine their awareness and expectations of Comprehensive Forest Management Advisors （Foresters）. Questionnaires were returned by 873 municipalities （54.1%） and the data were analyzed by covariance structure analysis. Awareness of the forester system and the role of Foresters was about 70%, but awareness of the Foresters in charge for their own municipality was lower, at about 40%. Covariance structure analysis revealed that expectations of Foresters tended to be higher among municipalities with higher awareness of Foresters, municipalities with insufficient implementation of the forestry system, and municipalities with a rich forest environment. In the future, it would be desirable to further raise awareness of Foresters among municipalities and to improve the effectiveness of collaboration between Foresters and municipalities.