Opinions About the Activities and Organization of Volunteers Working for the Conservation of the Coppice in Sakuragaoka Park in Tokyo

Abstract

On the 10^th anniversary of start of activities by volunteers working for the conservation of the coppice in Sakuragaoka Park, questionnaires were distributed to individual volunteers to make research on their assessment of the activities and the organization formed for the purpose. Various activities were assessed in their eagerness to participate in them and in recognition of necessity of such activities, and the organization, in their individual models what such an organization should be and the actual functions, in 4 steps, respectively.
Vegetation management, nature study and monitoring were highly assessed activities in both categories. Vegetation management and monitoring were highly assessed in recognition of necessity than in personal preference to such activities. It corresponds to the present problem that vegetation management cannot cope with growth of the plants there.
As for the organization equality among volunteers was highly valued in both categories.“To act on own initiative” was low in assessment in functions than in ideals, which shows it is often necessary to take part in vegetation management of the coppice under guidance. As volunteers want equality among themselves, it is not desirable that one person should take the leadership in every activity, but the role should be altered according to types of activities.