Abstract
On the campus of Tokyo Gakugei University, many plant and animal species, including tall trees, have been extant since 1946, when the campus facilities were moved to the present site in Koganeishi, Tokyo. The campus is an excellent biotope networked with many other metropolitan parks, and recently was named Gakugei no mori, i.e. the “grove of Gakugei University”. Gakugei no mori Environment Organization (GEO) was placed directly under the president of Tokyo Gakugei University at a consultative meeting held among students, faculty, staff and neighborhood residents. This organization is required to publish an Annual Report on the Environment, to discuss the best ways to make the campus environment comfortable, and to advise the staff and students about improving the environment.
The GEO carried out a survey of attitudes to the campus among the students, faculty, staff and neighborhood residents. Statistical analysis of the results, including multivariate analysis and text mining, demonstrated that most respondents had a favorable impression of the campus and its name, Gakugei no mori, but that they were hardly aware of the conservation activities conducted by the GEO. Particularly it was obvious that the students showed less interest in the natural environment of the campus than its other attributes. Accordingly, as a practical means for conserving the evergreen grove on the campus, the authors presented two lectures on the school gardens and biocultural diversity. The students cleaned up a large amount of solid garbage that had been dumped by other people, made a trail, and transplanted many wild plants to the grove. As a consequence of these activities, they began to understand the importance of conservation practice and skill by themselves. It is clear that these cooperative activities enhanced their environmental awareness of biodiversity.
