A CAUSAL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VALUE OF LOCAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND ACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES – A CASE OF HAYASAKI-NAIKO, SHIGA, JAPAN –

Abstract

 This study examined the relationship between the value of local natural resources (value as a natural environment, value as a place to interact with others) and actors responsible for conservation activities to commons by using structural equation modeling with questionnaire data from residents of the area around Hayasaki-naiko. The proposed model showed that residents, NPOs and Shiga prefectural government needed to work on conservation activities to maintain the value as a natural environment, and residents themselves needed to be in charge of conservation activities to maintain the value as a place to interact with others. Further, residents who were not familiar with the situation of Hayasaki-naiko evaluated that Shiga prefectural government was responsible for conservation activities in maintaining the value as a natural environment, and residents focused on conservation activities to maintain the value as a place to interact with others.