Since suburban secondary woodlands such as Pinus densiflora forests and deciduous Quercus forests, or coppice, ceased being utilized for fuel resources, they have developed closed canopy and thick undergrowth. Periodical thinning and undergrowth removal is therefore necessary both for recreational use, and also to prevent succession to broadleaved evergreen forests which would otherwise reduce species diversity and food sources for wildlife.
The purpose of this study is to ascertain the operative ability or potentiality of city dwellers who volunteer to manage those forests in place of the woodland owners. Experimental work investigated the role of undergrowth removal, the selective weeding of all undergrowth except rhododendron, and canopy thinning.
The results are as follows: in spite of poor weather, the number of the applicants exceeded expectations, and included elderly men and women whom we had omitted from our object of age range. (from an anxiety of overwork) Most participants were so absorbed in working that they were unaware of the passage of time. The average weeded area per head was 31.5m² in three hours, one and a half times more than predicted.ln the case of selective undergrowth removal, the area reduced to 21.6m² since it took more time to distinguish between rhododendron and the other shrubs. Although the thinning was the hardest work, the majority found this operation especially satisfying.
Questionnaire responses suggested that most participants intended to carry out similar voluntary conservation tasks in the future.

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