Enriching environments such as biodiversity at the block park in the neighborhood recreation area raises the value of the park, raises the frequency of use and raises the satisfaction of the park. In this study, we investigated the factors affecting bird species composition appearing in urban block parks around the small linear green spaces in urban area, which are expected to play a role as a corridor to expand the living and feeding area for birds. The investigation target area was block parks within 500m from Lake Biwa canal. As a result, as factors affecting bird species composition, the distance from the large-scale habitat, the green coverage ratio in the block park, the green coverage ratio within 50m around the block park, and the coverage rate of agricultural lands within 50m around the block park were extracted. However, as block parks close to the small linear green spaces, bird species were not abundantly specific, the influence of the small linear green spaces as a corridor given to block parks within 500 m around the small linear green spaces was considered to be small. In addition, raising the green coverage ratio in the block park and maintaining the coverage rate of agricultural lands around the block parks were considered to be necessary in order to improve the biodiversity even in the block parks distant from the large-scale habitat.

In Hamadera Park, bicycle parking areas are not defined except for provisional bicycle parking spaces. Hence, bicycle users park their bicycles at various places in the park. In this research, we analyzed the parking patterns and parking areas of bicycle users in Hamadera Park, and clarified the characteristics of parking behaviors under different conditions. We aimed to derive a person’s parking characteristics in this park and thereby obtain knowledge that contributes to the correction of bicycle problems in urban parks. To this end, observation surveys were carried out in summer and autumn, weekdays and holidays, and in the mornings. Our study revealed the parking patterns and characteristics of the parking area in summer and autumn, and confirmed that there were seven types of parking patterns in the park. Many bicycles were seen near the park entrances, near intersections, and around provisional bicycle parking facilities for attracting customers. We noticed that the parking distribution tends to be different depending on the season. The survey results show that bicycle parking lots are preferable in places where usage is expected to be high. It is also desirable to set parking lots in places with little traffic.

This paper presents assessments on the changes of ecosystem services using the definition of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Rates of agricultural output, rates of forested areas, rates of tourists, rates of city park areas, and diversity of plant community was mapped at the municipal level prior to the latest municipal mergers, or at every natural park. The results of the assessments demonstrated that the values of provisioning services have decreased in most areas. There are differences between the northern areas and the southern areas of Mie prefecture among other ecosystem services. In the northern areas, the values of regulating services have decreased. The values of cultural services and supporting services have increased, or were already high. In the southern areas, the values of provisioning services have increased in a part of the area, although they have decreased in most areas. And, the values of regulating services have increased. The values of cultural services and supporting services have decreased, or were already low. However, they have increased in a part of the area. In particular, in the southern area, most kinds of ecosystem services were already at a low level, but these trends have diminished recently. To make this study more effective for the practice, we will analyze more indicators in the future.

To enable mitigation and overcome the problems of road-kill and barrier effects, road-crossing structures (RCSs) are being installed worldwide. Previous research has shown that the structure of RCSs and the surrounding landscape pattern affect their traverse by wild animals. This article examined the factors influencing the usage of RCSs by wild mammals on the Toyotomi Bypass (TTB) in Hokkaido and the Higashi Fujigoko Expressway (HFGE) in Yamanashi. The utilization of RCSs by wild mammals was monitored using infrared sensor cameras, and the effects of structural and environmental parameters were analyzed. The structural parameters were 1) volume of RCSs, 2) openness, 3) presence or absence of drainage, 4) presence or absence of shelves, and 5) distance between the RCSs. The environmental parameters were the proportions of 1) bush, 2) non-bush, 3) anthropogenic land use, and 4) the presence or absence of existing vegetation clusters using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The study found that the common factor affecting the utilization of RCSs was the presence or absence of drainage. Other influential factors were the effects of structural and environmental parameters.

This research investigates the UK magazine called The Gardeners’ Chronicle (published by Purcell & Sons), one of the UK top four horticulture magazines in the 19th-20th century, focusing on the articles published between 1841-1967. During this period, when horticulture was booming in UK, various Japanese plants and trees were eagerly brought into UK by the botanists and the plant hunters, and parts of Japanese culture were introduced along with them. By analyzing one of the most popular horticultural magazines in UK, this study aims to investigate how the Japanese garden in UK developed and transformed. The total number of articles related to Japan was 347, of which 283 articles on botany and plants collection, 15 on landscape, 46 on the Japanese garden, 51 on travelling to Japan, 106 on other topics. This research shows that various Japanese plants and trees were imported first into UK by the plant hunters without any connection to Japanese garden designs. It was only after the inception of world exhibitions when the Japanese garden designs and concepts were introduced and acknowledged properly. The results of this research are important for the historic value and the cultural inheritance of the Japanese garden in UK.

It is believed that there is a deep connection between shrine and forest. Meiji Jingu’s forest that was settled in 1920, is famous for being created to aim for completion after 100 years along with the thoughts of forest ecology. This is a historical study to explore the process of the construction of the Meiji Jingu and its planning philosophy focusing on its forest. This study conducted by collecting and using primary sources such as minutes and drawings, and was proceeded by considering both discourse and physical plan. As a result, the following were clarified. Not only the forest but also the water system and landform, especially, the behind of shrine buildings were conceived as the spatial element to produces the landscape experience in Meiji Jingu, and the ideas were derived from Ise Jingu and Nikko Toshogu shrine. Then, process of the development of the physical plan in Meiji Shrine construction were visualized. In addition, that the planning theory of shrine forest before that had been inconsistent with the conventional idea and situation, and the less of expense of the forest management were the reason for the change in the planning concept of the Shrine forest.

In this study, by investigating Maebashi City where highly depend on automobile about the situation of utilization and traffic accessibility of Maebashi Kodomo Park and Maebashi Park, we considered the relationship based on the characteristics. First, we grasped the purpose of using two parks, the number of people and access means to parks by conducting a questionnaire survey on park users who go to Maebashi Kodomo Park and Maebashi Park in Maebashi City. Next, we grasped the awareness characteristic to the access shifting if the public transport is improved, based on the parking lot using experience and evaluation of the park. Furthermore, by using the results of the questionnaire survey we evaluated, the evaluation structures concerning the characteristics of Maebashi Kodomo Park and Maebashi Park usage characteristics. So, we grasped characteristics of user's awareness for shifting of public transport were modeled based on the quantification theory II. As a result of the above, we can clarify characteristics of utilization of Maebashi Kodomo Park and Maebashi Park, and characteristics at the central urban area and the awareness to traffic accessibility.

In this study, we conducted a survey of city residents and individuals who were registered to deliver woody biomass, in order to evaluate residents’ interest in participation and the status of woody biomass deliveries. When the business reached full operation in 2016, the number of registered individuals was 163, and the amount purchased was approximately 10,000 tons. The results of the survey of local residents indicate that there is widespread interest in the woody biomass business among residents of all ages and occupations, including those engaged in farming or other work unrelated to forestry. The results of the survey of registered individuals found that foresters harvesting wood from their own forests in their sixties and seventies, as well as forest management organizations, were responsible for the majority of woody biomass deliveries. Nearly 95% of the respondents expressed concerns regarding “preparation of forestry management plans.” Our results suggest that participation in the woody biomass business can be encouraged by establishing forests where interested local residents can work with other likeminded individuals, provide training of forestry skills, and deepen their knowledge and experience in forestry management and harvest planning.

In this research, we focused on two-stage pruning of street trees that is being implemented in Kyoto city. The purpose of this research was to grasp the relationship between the evaluation on two-stage pruning and the effect brought by two-stage pruning and to grasp the relationship between the economic evaluation on the landscape creation by two-step pruning and their effects. For that purpose, the questionnaire survey targeted Rakunai area and Rakusai area in Kyoto city. Rakunai was urban area and their landscape was being improved for sightseeing. Rakusai was residential area in the suburbs and the town made to feel the change of the seasons. As the result of the questionnaire, it was possible to grasp the relevance between evaluation of “satisfaction” and “necessity” to the street space created by two-stage pruning and the effect brought by two-stage pruning. The effect of “comfort” and “seasonal feeling” were important for evaluation to the street space formed by two-stage pruning. And for the economic evaluation, “formation of street scenery” were important .Due to the difference in response trend for each area, it was found that the evaluation to the street space created by two-stage pruning also changes depending on the regional characteristics.

The Itoigawa Station North Area conflagration which broke out on December 22, 2016 spread over down town Itoigawa because of a fierce south wind and burnt down the traditional and precious streetscape. The fire spread from the origin of the fire to the north according to the wind direction until the National Route 8 and the Sea of Japan prevented the fire spreading. The congestion of houses had intensified in the fire-devastated area with little unoccupied space. Trees such as garden tree and forest were also damaged. However, in devastated areas including those by the Great Kanto earthquake down to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake, few records have remained about the existence and conditions of trees damaged together with towns and it commonly takes place to cut down most of those trees in the process of restoration. Therefore, in this study, it was investigated the conditions of trees in the devastated areas. As a result, total 354 trees were remaining in the burnt-out districts, and the actual condition of remaining trees was grasped, such as the damage is relatively small for trees with low those height.

In this short paper, the process of landscape design utilizing thermal environment simulation and the planning of maintenance plan afterwards would be discussed, illustrating a residential area development project "Passive Town Kurobe" （Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture）. In order to create a comfortable outdoor space, the plan and design were evaluated using a heat balance numerical simulation, and how to improve and to make space more comfortable were discussed based on the evaluation. Not only physical aspect of outdoor space but also residents’ usage of the space and growth of the trees were considered in the design process. Field survey was implemented in the summertime in 2018 and the results confirmed the evaluation was mostly appropriate. Considering the location and reasons behind the gap between the results of evaluation and observation, how to maintain and modify the landscape in the future was discussed.