Masatake Kawaguchi

In this study, we ascertained roadside residents' awareness of the area and its street trees based on the questionnaire for the residents in order to analyze the structure of factors influencing their commitment to the maintenance of street trees, using covariance structure analysis. The results revealed that awareness of "perception of the value of street trees" increases simultaneously with awareness of "perception of the value of the area"; thus, both have a strong, positive mutual influence. The structure is clarified as one whereby "commitment to the maintenance of street trees" is strongly influenced by "perception of the value of street trees," whereas "awareness of the problem of street trees" is not strongly influenced by "perception of the value of street trees." "Evaluation awareness of the management situation of street trees" and "recognition of the function served by street trees"are strongly influenced by "perception of the value of street trees."

We analyzed the relation between citizens’ demands and the spatial-environmental factors of street trees in Higashiosaka City and found three important points. In residential districts, street trees must be maintained to ensure that their shapes and sizes complement the residential environment. In residential–commercial mixed districts, street trees must be systematically maintained for ensuring good visibility with consideration to large vehicles and cleaning of the fallen leaves and spraying insecticides with consideration to pedestrians. In residential–industrial mixed districts, shrubs must be maintained to ensure good visibility in spatially and environmentally limited planting spaces.