New Trends in Forest Use and the Birth of Cultural Values in Human―Forest Relationships

An Introduction to Value Studies in Forestry

Abstract

As an introduction to value studies in forestry, this paper seeks to refocus human values on forests as the key factor to approaching the complicated relationships between people and forests. From this viewpoint, the cultural value of forests seems quite an obscure framework; and has been defined in many ways by reflecting on the concepts of multiple forest functions, ecosystem services, or principles of existing social and forest sciences. However, even under this broad framework, focusing on human values shows that various actors and groups find multiple values in forest spaces, lands, landscapes, trees and other plants, animals, and forest trails as the objects. Moreover, these values have been dynamically born and evolved through their ongoing relationships with forests and many types of social changes. The values of mountain bikers and trail runners in forests, and toward the forestry heritage, which have generated new trends of forest use in Japan, provide good examples of that process. Studies such as this should explore prudent adoption of diverse human values and stakeholders’interests for application to conflict resolutions and decision making leading to sustainable, efficient, and equitable forest use.