Abstract
In Japan, forests associated with shrines and temples are recognized as important components of urban green space, which can potentially function as centers for ecosystem conservation in rapidly urbanizing Japanese cities. In addition to their ecological value, shrine/temple forests have social value, providing recreational and aesthetic needs to residents of urban areas. We review the historical development of shrine/temple forests in Japan and discuss current conservation issues from both ecological and sociological perspectives. Generally, shrine forests are minimally managed and public access is discouraged, whereas temple forests are intensively managed for public display. Shrines tend to be spatially scattered across the landscape but associated with specific geographical features, whereas temples tend to be clustered. Their wide and random distribution in urban areas suggests that shrine forests can potentially be used as stepping stones in the urban green space network, whereas spatially clustered temple forests can be integrated to form large areas of green space. Species diversity of shrine/temple forests declines with decreasing area. The distribution pattern of species is not completely nested, indicating that although conservation of large forest fragments may be effective for maintaining landscape-level biodiversity, smaller forest fragments and adjacent precincts are sometimes significant because rare species occasionally inhabit them. Active management and ecological restoration, such as removal of invasive species, are also important to maintain the desirable near-natural forest conditions. A working group including the owner, community, regional government, and ecologists should be involved in creating an effective, long-term management plan. Because social and cultural values are diverse, basic ecological studies of shrine/temple forests would contribute a scientific basis that fosters public confidence in the process.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 307-315 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Landscape and Ecological Engineering |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 6 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Ecology
- Nature and Landscape Conservation
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Cite this
Integrating ecological and cultural values toward conservation and utilization of shrine/temple forests as urban green space in Japanese cities. / Ishii, Hiroaki T.; Manabe, Tohru; Ito, Keitaro; Fujita, Naoko; Imanishi, Ayumi; Hashimoto, Daisuke; Iwasaki, Ayako.
In: Landscape and Ecological Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 2, 06.07.2010, p. 307-315.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Integrating ecological and cultural values toward conservation and utilization of shrine/temple forests as urban green space in Japanese cities
AU - Ishii, Hiroaki T.
AU - Manabe, Tohru
AU - Ito, Keitaro
AU - Fujita, Naoko
AU - Imanishi, Ayumi
AU - Hashimoto, Daisuke
AU - Iwasaki, Ayako
PY - 2010/7/6
Y1 - 2010/7/6
N2 - In Japan, forests associated with shrines and temples are recognized as important components of urban green space, which can potentially function as centers for ecosystem conservation in rapidly urbanizing Japanese cities. In addition to their ecological value, shrine/temple forests have social value, providing recreational and aesthetic needs to residents of urban areas. We review the historical development of shrine/temple forests in Japan and discuss current conservation issues from both ecological and sociological perspectives. Generally, shrine forests are minimally managed and public access is discouraged, whereas temple forests are intensively managed for public display. Shrines tend to be spatially scattered across the landscape but associated with specific geographical features, whereas temples tend to be clustered. Their wide and random distribution in urban areas suggests that shrine forests can potentially be used as stepping stones in the urban green space network, whereas spatially clustered temple forests can be integrated to form large areas of green space. Species diversity of shrine/temple forests declines with decreasing area. The distribution pattern of species is not completely nested, indicating that although conservation of large forest fragments may be effective for maintaining landscape-level biodiversity, smaller forest fragments and adjacent precincts are sometimes significant because rare species occasionally inhabit them. Active management and ecological restoration, such as removal of invasive species, are also important to maintain the desirable near-natural forest conditions. A working group including the owner, community, regional government, and ecologists should be involved in creating an effective, long-term management plan. Because social and cultural values are diverse, basic ecological studies of shrine/temple forests would contribute a scientific basis that fosters public confidence in the process.
AB - In Japan, forests associated with shrines and temples are recognized as important components of urban green space, which can potentially function as centers for ecosystem conservation in rapidly urbanizing Japanese cities. In addition to their ecological value, shrine/temple forests have social value, providing recreational and aesthetic needs to residents of urban areas. We review the historical development of shrine/temple forests in Japan and discuss current conservation issues from both ecological and sociological perspectives. Generally, shrine forests are minimally managed and public access is discouraged, whereas temple forests are intensively managed for public display. Shrines tend to be spatially scattered across the landscape but associated with specific geographical features, whereas temples tend to be clustered. Their wide and random distribution in urban areas suggests that shrine forests can potentially be used as stepping stones in the urban green space network, whereas spatially clustered temple forests can be integrated to form large areas of green space. Species diversity of shrine/temple forests declines with decreasing area. The distribution pattern of species is not completely nested, indicating that although conservation of large forest fragments may be effective for maintaining landscape-level biodiversity, smaller forest fragments and adjacent precincts are sometimes significant because rare species occasionally inhabit them. Active management and ecological restoration, such as removal of invasive species, are also important to maintain the desirable near-natural forest conditions. A working group including the owner, community, regional government, and ecologists should be involved in creating an effective, long-term management plan. Because social and cultural values are diverse, basic ecological studies of shrine/temple forests would contribute a scientific basis that fosters public confidence in the process.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77954152616&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11355-010-0104-5
DO - 10.1007/s11355-010-0104-5
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:77954152616
VL - 6
SP - 307
EP - 315
JO - Landscape and Ecological Engineering
JF - Landscape and Ecological Engineering
SN - 1860-1871
IS - 2
ER -