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[HGG01-02] Evaluation of Landscape Conservation at Green Space on Campus Based on the Level of Willingness to Work
Keywords:Willingness to Work, Landscape Conservation, Green Space on Campus
1. IntroductionA university campus with a large-scale green space is precious access to green for the residents in the surrounding vicinity. However, very often only a very low budget is granted for management of green space on university campuses in Japan. Volunteer activities among students are expected for management of the landscape and maintenance of those green spaces on campus. In this study, landscape conservation of green space on campus has been evaluated, based on the level of students’ willingness to work.2. Study MethodsMatsudo Campus of Chiba University in Japan has been selected as a subject. The total area of this campus is 15 hectares, and 13.7 of which counts for green space. A survey was conducted in July, 2013, with students who belong to the Faculty of Horticulture at Chiba University. The number of respondents was 77. The following four items were surveyed: 1) Attribute of respondents (gender, participation experience in green space conservation activities, and willingness to participate), 2) future vision of green space on campus from nature experiences, 3) ecosystem services expected from green space on campus, and 4) desired participation hours to spare for green space conservation activities.3. Results and ConsiderationsRegarding respondents’ attributes, the number of valid responses was 59, with 35 males (59%) and 24 females (41%). The number of people who have participation experience in green space conservation activities counted 27 (46%). The number of those who are willing to participate in those activities was 48 (81%). With regard to the future vision of green space on campus, an free answer question was provided and 65 valid responses were obtained. The two most common opinions were as following: 1) “Increasing of nature experience events” (19 respondents, 29%), and 2) “Increasing of facilities such as restrooms, benches, gathering area, and lighting” (19 respondents, 29%). The next most significant answer was “Better management of gardens and woods” (15 respondents, 23%).The next topic about ecosystem services expected from green space on campus was captured from 59 valid responses. Approximately 90% of them had certain expectations from ecological services related to green space on campus: examples, “to create beautiful landscape in the area” and “space where people can enjoy nature”. Finally, as for the number of participation days to spare for conservation activities on Matsudo campus, 59 students provided valid answers. The average number of days that they are willing to participate is 14.2. Since the participation hours per day had been specified and presented as four hours, the average hours figure is 56.8, converted from the number of days. The grand total of days willing to spare among all valid respondents counted 841 days. Next, the number of desired days to spare was computed for each activity location within the campus. “Ohisama Garden”, which is a flower garden managed mainly by students’ initiatives earned the highest number of days among all the campus locations. Thirty-five respondents (59%) are willing to spare time here with an average of 6.4 days, which totals 225 days. On the other hand, traditional garden is the most popular in terms of the number of respondents who are willing to spare time. Forty respondents (68%) indicated their interest in sparing time in the traditional garden. The average counted 4.8 days, which totals 191 days. While the main reason of the location choice for Ohisama Garden was “interest in the activities” (14 respondents), the one for the traditional garden was “to acquire knowledge and know-how” (12 respondents).4. ConclusionIn this study, students’ willingness to participate in landscape conservation was clarified by gauging their