Park users’ awareness of CES and EDS in relation to forests and characteristics of park management at three parks in hilly areas

In recent years, park management increasingly focuses on enhancing park appeal. In this study, we linked park users’ perceptions of the attractiveness of forests in hilly parks to their awareness of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) and Ecosystem Disservices (EDS). The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of park users’ awareness of CES and EDS in relation to forests in three parks located in hilly areas. In this study, we verified differences in park users’ awareness of CES and EDS through statistical analysis of questionnaire survey. As a result, it became clear that park users relatively felt a sense of peace of mind, danger of injury or illness, and economic burden for conservation, but did not relatively feel its functions of cultural tradition and community creation with regard to the forests. In addition, it was found that awareness of CES and EDS varies depending on user attributes such as gender, age, frequency of visits, purpose of visits, experience of civic activities, awareness of exhibits and signs, and preferences regarding the forests.