Relationships between physical attributes of trees and its human perception: case study of Nojimatokiwa, Awaji, Hyogo, Japan.

In this study, the role of trees plays for rural landscape planning was discussed in regard to relationships between physical attributes of trees and its human perception. We conducted ground surveys to identify physical attributes of trees and its human perceptions for Nojimatokiwa, Awaji Hyogo. Items of ground surveys included tree species, land use types, distances from residential areas, human perception of trees, reasons of perception and management practices. The results show that trees in rural landscape performed various functions, especially trees with personal memories are highly perceived. The highly perception ratings for the trees with personal memories signify the importance of communications between rural landscape planners and people who live there. For improving rural environmental perceptual quality, carrying out advanced researches will certainly lead to new insights regarding citizens' perception of local character.