This book proposes the use of green infrastructure to balance biodiversity conservation and disaster management. Paddy fields are one example of such infrastructure and are the focus of this book. In Japan, abandoned, once-cultivated land is increasing in the paddy fields due to the aging of society and recent depopulation. The author proposes to consolidate such lands and create wetlands because the paddy fields hold water during heavy rains, which prevents floods and protects cities. This is essential, considering that extreme weather conditions have increased the risk of flood damage in Japan. Not only do such wetlands hold water during the flood season, they also provide habitats for aquatic life and places for children to learn about the natural environment. In addition, fish farming in the wetlands will provide food for many people. The increase in water disasters associated with global warming is occurring not only in Japan but globally. The proposal presented in this book will help government officials around the world, especially those involved in urban and rural planning, to consider disaster management―an idea that will be welcomed by both engineers and biologists.
Author(s): Akira Matsui
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 262
City: Singapore
Preface
Acknowledgments
Contents
List of Boxes
Part I Flood Control
1 Characteristics of Flood Disasters
1.1 Comparison of Rivers in Japan and the World
1.2 Impact of Urbanization
1.3 Global Warming and Flood-Related Disasters
References
2 Flood Control Methods
2.1 Flood Control Methods
2.2 Open Levee
2.3 Paddy Field Dam
2.4 Watershed Control
Appendix
References
3 Significance of Flood Disturbance
3.1 What Does a Flood Carry?
3.2 Importance of Disturbance
3.3 Maintaining a River Ecosystem
3.4 Connection Among Mountains, Rivers, Villages and Seas
Appendix
References
Part II Paddy Fields
4 Characteristics of Paddy Fields
4.1 Agriculture Across the World
4.2 Paddy Fields Throughout the World
4.3 Paddy Fields in Japan
4.4 Present State of Paddy Fields in Japan
Appendix
References
5 Multiple Functions of Paddy Fields
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Food Production
5.3 Flood Control
5.4 Sediment Collapse Prevention
5.5 Sediment Runoff Prevention
5.6 River Flow Stability and Groundwater Recharge
5.7 Water Purification
5.8 Atmosphere Control
5.9 Biodiversity Conservation
5.10 Land Conservation
5.11 Community Promotion
5.12 Preservation of Traditional Culture
5.13 Human Welfare
5.14 Environmental Education
Appendix
References
Part III Case Study of a River
6 Flood Survey
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Methods
6.3 Results
6.3.1 Kochi River Flow and Water Quality
6.3.2 Water Quality of the Kochi River, Kita River and Obama Bay
6.4 Discussion
6.4.1 Relationship Between Discharge and Water Quality During Flooding and Normal Flows in the Kochi River
6.4.2 Relationship Among the Kochi River, Kita River and Obama Bay
6.4.3 Impact of Floods on Closed Waters
Appendix
References
7 Open Levee Survey
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Methods
7.3 Results
7.4 Discussion
7.4.1 Intensification of Flood Disasters
7.4.2 Agricultural Land Conversion
7.4.3 Declining and Aging of Agricultural Working Population
7.4.4 Restoration of Basin Residents’ Dependence on the River
7.4.5 Challenges to and Solutions for Open Levee Conservation
Appendix
References
8 Survey of the River Ecosystem Downstream of a Dam
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Methods
8.2.1 Survey Area
8.2.2 Water Quality, Stone Surface Deposits and Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Survey
8.3 Results
8.3.1 Water Quality and Stone Surface Deposits in the Ooishi River
8.3.2 Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in the Ooishi River
8.3.3 Site Comparison of Taxon Density of Net-spinning Caddisflies
8.4 Discussion
Appendix
References
9 Lake Biwa Survey
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Methods
9.3 Results
9.3.1 Submerged Macrophyte Survey
9.3.2 Bottom Sediment Survey
9.4 Discussion
9.4.1 Relationship Between Submerged Macrophytes and Bottom Sediment
9.4.2 Distribution Factor of Submerged Macrophytes
9.4.3 Influence of Artificial Reductions in Water Level on Submerged Macrophytes
Appendix
References
Part IV Case Study of Paddy Fields
10 Drainage Canal System Survey
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Methods
10.2.1 Survey Areas
10.2.2 Survey Methods
10.2.3 Physical Environmental Survey
10.2.4 Aquatic Animal Survey
10.3 Results
10.3.1 Physical Environment in the Drainage Canal System
10.3.2 Total Numbers of Fish Caught at the Survey Sites
10.3.3 Total Numbers of Aquatic Insects Caught at the Survey Sites
10.4 Discussion
10.4.1 Physical Environment in the Drainage Canal System
10.4.2 Ecology of Opsariichthys Platypus
10.4.3 Ecology of Misgurnus Anguillicaudatus
10.4.4 Ecology of Calopteryx Atlata
10.4.5 Ecology of Orthetrum Albistyrum Speciosum
10.4.6 Effects of the Presence of Running Water in the Nonirrigation Season on Aquatic Animals in the Drainage Canal System
10.4.7 Proposals for Water Management in Consideration of Aquatic Animals
10.4.8 Proposals for Drainage Canal Maintenance Considering Aquatic Animals
Appendix
References
11 Irrigation Canal System Survey
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Methods
11.2.1 Survey Areas
11.2.2 Survey Methods
11.3 Results
11.3.1 Physical Environment in the Irrigation and Drainage Canal Systems
11.3.2 Biomass of Fish in the Irrigation and Drainage Canal Systems
11.4 Discussion
11.4.1 Physical Environment in the Irrigation and Drainage Canal Systems
11.4.2 Features of the Fish in the Irrigation and Drainage Canal Systems
11.4.3 Fishes at the Pools of the Irrigation Canal System
11.4.4 Issues with Conventional Irrigation and Drainage Canal Maintenance
11.4.5 Conservation Measures for Drainage–Paddy Field Fish
11.4.6 Conservation Measures for Irrigation–Drainage Fish
11.4.7 Step-By-Step Measures for Fish Conservation
Appendix
References
12 Fish-Retreat Ditch Survey
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Methods
12.2.1 Survey Areas
12.2.2 Survey Methods
12.3 Results
12.3.1 Aquatic Animal Biomass in the Fish-Retreat Ditch
12.3.2 Aquatic Animal Biomass Ascending to the Fish-Retreat Ditch
12.3.3 Aquatic Animal Biomass Descending from the Fish-Retreat Ditch
12.3.4 Water Depth, Water Temperature and Water Quality in the Fish-Retreat Ditch
12.4 Discussion
12.4.1 Characteristics of the Major Fish Species
12.4.2 Fish Types Occurring in the Fish-Retreat Ditch
12.4.3 Functional Significance of a Fish-Retreat Ditch
12.4.4 Management Issues Related to the Fish-Retreat Ditch
12.4.5 Future Outlook
Appendix
References
Part V Wetland Development
13 Improvements to Enrich the Paddy Irrigation and Drainage Canal Systems
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Selective and Gradual Conservation Measures for Aquatic Animals
13.2.1 Conservation Measure A
13.2.2 Conservation Measure B
13.2.3 Conservation Measure C
13.2.4 Conservation Measure D
13.3 Water Flow Method in the Nonirrigation Season
13.4 Water Flow Plan for the Irrigation and Drainage Canal Systems
13.5 Paddy Fields as Social Assets
Appendix
References
14 Multiple Effects of Wetland Development
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Flood Control
14.3 Biodiversity Conservation
14.4 Environmental Education
14.5 Food Supply and Landscape Conservation
14.6 Recreation and Sports
Appendix
Reference
15 Wetland Management
15.1 Sizes and Sites of Wetlands
15.2 Importance of Regional Ecosystems
15.3 Importance of Basin Resident Dependence on Rivers
15.4 Wetland Management
Appendix
References
