Abandoned forest ecosystem: Implications for Japan's Oak Wilt disease

Abstract

This study determined values for the ecosystem services of abandoned coppice forests that are threatened by a forest disease known as Japanese Oak Wilt. We applied a discrete choice experiment to value these ecosystem services. The results indicated that ecosystem services were highly valued in the order of biodiversity conservation, water and soil regulation, timber provision, and climate change mitigation. This study suggests that people expect abandoned coppice forests to be protected from Japanese Oak Wilt and to become rich in biodiversity. However, public preference for biodiversity conservation services had high heterogeneity among people. On the other hand, water and soil regulation services were widely ranked as important among people. Furthermore, traditional management method is most preferred than other forest-change scenarios in JOW countermeasures.