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This study clarified the factors of spreading wood burials in Germany comparing with Japanese challenges of them. The actual state of wood burials in Germany was figured out through literature researches, fieldworks and interview researches. German wood burial is placed as a new forest use in addition to the multiple public functions of forest. In contrast, Japanese wood burial is a new form of graveyard. In addition to that, German wood burials are managed by private enterprises which contract with forest owners and controlled by foresters in a sustainable nature based forest management. This is the reason why the wood burials in Germany look similar and are continued with surrounding forest areas. Japanese wood burials have already diversified and some forest type wood burials are usually managed by Buddhist monks, which face similar challenges in sustainable forest management.
