Self-managerial activity by local people for keeping coastal pine forest and complemental policy of Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

: Coastal pine forest is one of the important green infrastructures, which provides several ecosystem services such as disaster prevention and beautiful scenery. Most of the coastal pine forests in Japan, however, has been unmanaged and changing to different types of forests through natural succession. In addition, the structure has been declining due to pine wilt disease. In this situation, coastal pine forest in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has been restored by autonomic activities of local people. Enthusiasm come from people ’ s memory of the past such as beautiful landscape of the pine forest and thought of recovering it. Local council, which was established under the policy of Fukutsu City, took a roll to share people ’ s memories, recognize challenges and establish a goal in the local area. The council has act as the platform for public involvement and the motivation for the activities. Fukutsu City has transferred authority and fiscal resources to the local council according to the policy on promoting local governance. Thus it has successfully brought the governance-based solution to ecosystem management for keeping the functions of green infrastructure.