Abstract

We discuss what kind of roles a local government plays to construct the partnership with local people for conservation and use of local forests through the results of questionnaire from 19 forest volunteer organizations (FVO) in urban and suburban areas and 13 FVOs in rural areas. It depends on social background that a local government leads forest volunteer activities as well as offers activity sites and financial supports to FVO made by local residents. In urban and suburban areas, where it is relatively easy for local people to participate forest volunteer activitise, a local government cheafly plays a role as suppoter of FVO. On the other hand, in rural areas, where the population decreases and becomes older, there are more cases that a local government leads local people and citizens to join forest volunteer activities.It is expected that a local government plays an important role not only as a supporter of FVO but also as a negotiator with local people who have different opinions on forest conservation and use.