Studies on the Recreational Function of the Forest

(I) An Approach to the Valuation of the Recreational Function of a Forest at Nibetsu in the Suburb of Akita City

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find out the method to appraise the sociol function of the forest, especially the recreational function of the forest. To develope this study is the needs of the times, but this study is scarcely found in Japan. In Germany, on the contrary, Prof. Prodan at Freiburg University already started this study at the early time of 1960's. He obtained some equations and showed the value by DM/year and ha. In Germany, the places of the forest and those of the human habitation exist in complicated states. While in Japan, the places of the forest are out of human habitation both in physical and mental means. Therefore, the relation between the forest and a human being differs fairly in these two countries. His method to lead the results, however, is very suggestible for us.
The author selected a recreational forest at Nibetsu in the suburb of Akita City. The distance from the center of the city is about 25km. It takes about one hour by auto. The area of the recreational forest is 2825ha. The forest is constructed with the old Akita Sugi-one of the most famous Japanese cedar, and hard woods. In this area, we can find a forest museum and other facilities for recreational purposes.
At this forest, the investigation was done to observe the actual condition of the utilization as the recreational function. The opinions of 199 visitors to this forest were asked by the method of questionnaire. From these investigations, following results were obtained. 1. The annual numbers of visitors to Nibetsu are constantly about thirty percentage of the population of Akita City.
And the author suggested the new concept, “Tanboritsu” (Visitor-Inhabitant Ratio)-the concept expressing the pressure of the city to the recreational forest.
Namely,
K=N/P
where
K=Tanboritsu (Visitor-Inhabitant Ratio)
N=Numbers of visitor/year
P=Population of the city near the forest For Nibetsu, the value K=0.3
2. The author proposed a method appraising the recreational value of the forest by using trave1-ing expenses. And he showed the value as follows:
TV=V+α
where
TV: Whole recreational value
V: The value obtained by traveling expenses inyen/ha
α: The value indiscribable by money For Nibetsu, the value was calculated by the traveling expenses of bus fare and auto. The calculated one was,
150, 000 yen/ha
3. Most of the visitors were pleased with this forest. Therefore, the appraised value above mentioned can be recognized as the recreational value of this forest.
4. As the people visit this forest frequently, they tend to be interested in the river-side and walking-lane.