Nowadays forestry management is not enough that woods around a city or town, called "sato-yama", become bushy and poor. And many woods are cut away for residential or industrial land development. But "sato-yama" has a value of a field of recreation or environmental education. Of course it plays an important role in the regional eco-system. Recently neighborhood movements are born and expanding in order to manage and conserve the environment of "sato-yama".

There are some groups trying "sato-yama" management in Higashi-hiroshima city. The majority of the members are newcomers to the city. They want to know about the region where they live, and come aware that "sato-yama" is very valuable for all residents. But it is gradually damaged. So they begin to try "sato-yama" management by themselves.

This study aims to clarify the owners' vision about how to use and manage their woodland, and their evaluation of "sato-yama" management activities by the other residents. Because it is necessary to know about the owners' opinion and action in order to spread these activities.

Many owners don't regard "sato-yama" as woodland but as real estate for urban development. So they don't intend to invest their money and labor in the forestry management. Some of them don't trust the "sato-yama" management activities by the residents, and don't want to get involved in these. But 30% of the respondents show intense interest in these. 70% of them insist that it is necessary to gain owners' confidence to continuation of the activities.