Size and Expertise of Municipal Forest Administration Staff: Results of a Survey on Actual Conditions of Municipal Forest Administration (Conducted in 2020)

Abstract

In this study, based on the results of questionnaire surveys conducted in municipalities throughout Japan, we clarified the size and expertise of forest administration staff and examined the possible impact of these factors on forest administration. In recent years, the workload of municipal forest administration has increased at a rate outpacing the staff increase, and most municipalities have indicated feeling understaffed. Municipalities with large forest administration staff often have staff members with expertise, perform a relatively wide range of work types, and frequently visit forests. However, municipalities with higher number of staff indicate feeling more understaffed than municipalities with lesser staff numbers. Conversely, many municipalities that do not feel understaffed have a low amount of forest-related work. Many municipalities, including those with expertise, indicate feeling a lack of knowledge in identifying broadleaf trees and high-risk mountain disaster areas. Some municipalities with low staff numbers do not have the opportunities to focus on the need to identify high-risk mountain disaster areas through their work. The results of this survey indicate that the number of staff and their expertise may affect the scope and level of forest administration work, such as the extent of field inspections and risk assessments.