A comparative study of urban attitude forward forest use in Kobe and Seoul.

Abstract

Because of expanding populations in large East Asian cities, urban sprawl, chaotic expansion and resulting disappearance of urban forests are serious problems confronting the living environment. Questionnaires were distributed to residents of Seoul and Kobe to determine their perceptions of the forests surrounding their cities. Results show the order of residents' priorities for forest uses to be (1) water and land conservation, (2) wildlife conservation, (3) preservation of the scenic landscape, and (4) timber production. The patterns of responses in Kobe and Seoul were nearly identical. The correlation coefficient for both patterns was 0.96. The most important forest use, water and land conservation, was further divided into subcategories. Kobe residents ordered their priorities as: (1) flood control, (2) stable water supply, (3) mitigation of slope failure, and (4) preservation of water quality. Seoul residents ranked their priorities as: (1) preservation of water quality, (2) stable water supply, (3) flood control, and (4) mitigation of slope failure. In this case the respondent pattern of two residents' citizens were completely different. The correlation coefficient of the two patterns was -0.12. We can make the following conclusion from the survey results: (a) The urban forest must be maintained in coincidence with the characteristics of each city, (b) The urban forests are important for recreational use. (c) Timber production is not recommended in urban forests. (d) Government expenditures for the upkeep of urban forests are supported by local residents.