Recently, Japan has seen the trend throughout the nation that management activities for preserving Satoyama have been more voluntarily conducted by local residents. The management activities ranged from region to region, depending on the levels of management skill local residents acquired, which have made it difficult for researchers to predict how effective management activities, including thinning and forest floor management, are in preserving Satoyama. This study was conducted to estimate the management efficiency in preserving Satoyama in Osaka Prefecture through a field survey. The field survey was carried out at 21 different areas, and the interview was conducted on 6 different groups of local residents who voluntarily participated in management activities. The results obtained were: 1) management efficiency played a big difference between the initial management, such as thinning and creating square, and the regular management such as weed clearing; 2) As for manual labor, management efficiency was 4.2 persons/100 m2/day in the initial management when thinning was only conducted monthly by the operating officials. Management efficiency was 2.8 persons/100 m2/day in the regular management activities excluding weed clearing, which was conducted monthly by the operating officials; 3) As for machine use, management efficiency almost doubled when compared with those with manual labor. Management efficiency was 2.0 persons/100 m2/day in the initial management, and 1.8 persons/100 m2/day in the regular management.
