Environmental Efforts for Social Infrastructure Improvement in the Chubu Region Chubu Regional Bureau Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Chubu Regional Bureau, Planning Department, Planning Division 2-5-1 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi 460-8514 TEL 052-953-8127 http://www.cbr.mlit.go.jp/ Printed on 100% recycled paper with soy inks. Road Project Building and Repairs Project Nature restoration Environmental consideration Promoting the use of timber and environmental protection efforts Restoring the natural environment to its original state Biotope creation Promoting the use of timber By promoting the use of timber, the Chubu Biotope creation Regional Development Bureau works Road construction has changed the environment where plants and animals live and grow. To restore the altered on appropriate forest development and environment to its original state, biotopes have been created within interchanges. These biotopes are created by conservation, as part of its eff orts to create a using forest topsoil generated during construction work and by replanting rootstocks of felled trees. recycling-oriented society. With the passage of the years, a variety of indigenous fauna and fl ora have settled in the region, facilitating the restoration of the natural environment to its original state. Immediately after the start of biotope creation（November 2004） To Takayama I.C K L u e ri n o g T t o Timber used for structure Timber used for exteriors Timber used for interiors h: nn 1, e 06 l 9m Kiyomiyo kamachi Tunn el Le Maehara elevated bridge ngt h:1 Length:290m ,2 72 m Example of Japan Pavilion in EXPO 2005 Aichi Japan The EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN was an C international exposition held in Japan h u b from March 25 to September 25 in 2005. u - J u The Japan Pavilion was planned as an k About one year after the start of biotope creation（August 2005） a n experimental pavilion that incorporated E x p Japanese tradition and new technologies on r e Takayama-nishi I.C s the theme of a new prosperity in which people s w a and nature coexist in harmony. y a To construct the pavilion, four bundled k Bamboo cage-like structure Exterior wall using bamboo green（Sasa veitchii f. minor） a y columns were made of nine small-diameter a m a logs from forest thinning. These four columns K i were then combined to create a pillar that y o m could sustain a large-space structure. The i R o pavilion also made eff ective use of composite a d wood members created by binding timber from forest thinning with an adhesive agent. To Hida Kiyomi I.C. Current biotope state（August 2010） Among other features were rooftop gardening that used coconut-shell mats on which indigenous grass was planted, and the exterior panels made by laminating plates of Japanese larch（Larix leptolepis） together. Moreover, the Columns used to set up a scaff old Bundled columns made of log from forest thinning Composite wood members wind tower“Solar Chimney” was employed, to (IIRUWVIRFXVLQJRQVSHFL¿FVSHFLHV Light-shielding measures to protect loggerhead sea turtles enhance natural ventilation by letting outer air in. Measures to prevent vehicle Measures using headlight glare from affecting Light-shielding plate louvered lighting the egg-laying behavior of Since a road under construction faces loggerhead sea turtles the zone where loggerhead sea turtles Moving illumination emitted from vehicle lay eggs, the hatched baby turtles may headlights and the like affects the egg- become unable to locate and crawl Road shoulder laying behavior of loggerhead sea turtles back to the sea, due to the nearby road （Caretta caretta）. To prevent this problem, lighting. To prevent such effects, we measures have been taken by such means Vegetation have taken light-shielding measures, Rooftop greened with indigenous plants External wooden panels Solar chimney（wind tower） as installing light-shielding plates. including the use of louvered lighting. Light-shielding not to aff ect turtles’ egg-laying Development of eco-friendly Improving heat-insulation performance Harnessing natural energies JRYHUQPHQWRI¿FHEXLOGLQJV We strive to develop“green” government Photovoltaic power generation Suffi cient heat insulation Blocking sunlight by deciduous trees Rooftop gardening Environmental consideration（rooftop gardening） office buildings, in order to promote Sprinkling stored rainwater environmental protection measures in the fi eld Blocking direct sunlight by eaves of construction, giving consideration to the Water-permeable paving Natural ventilation reduction of environmental impacts throughout High-performance glass Fine control of lighting the building lifecycle, from building planning, Blocking sunlight Rainfall by deciduous trees High-effi ciency lighting construction and operation to disposal. Surface course Permeationl Interior using eco- Base course Permeationl Prolonging useful life of building framework materials Interior using eco-materials Roadbed Permeationl Water-permeable paving Improving effi ciency of major equipment Reuse of drainage water Filter layer Evapotranspiratio Use of rainwater Ordinary lighting system Louvered lighting system designed not to disorient baby turtles 5 Environmental Eff orts for Social Infrastructure Improvement in the Chubu Region Environmental Eff orts for Social Infrastructure Improvement in the Chubu Region 6 Toward the Realization of a Sustainable Society Harmonized with the Environment Third Basic Environment Plan Strategies toward sustainable Directions for future environmental policy development development of the Chubu area Integrated improvements of the environment, The Chubu Region of Japan retains abundant natural environments and ecosystems, encompassing mountains, economy and society, and formation of sustainable Creating an area that can pass on rich and diverse national land and nature natural environments to future generations including Mt. Fuji and the Japan Alps, rivers fl owing from these mountains, and plains formed by the courses of the rivers. from an environmental viewpoint, etc. ▶▶ Plan by category Entering an era in which global and local environments are inseparably related, Promoting global warming prevention Third National Biodiversity Strategyof Japan and creating a recycling-oriented area in quest of sustainable development of the Chubu area, the Chubu Regional Development Bureau continues to work toward Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society the realization of a sustainable society harmonized with the environment, through social infrastructure improvement. River Project Nature Restoration What is the Meiji River COLUMN Improvement Project Creation of diverse waterfront In 1887, a project for improvement of the Kiso River environments with Kereppu spur dikes downstream area was launched under the guidance of Johannes de Rijke, a Dutch engineer, to An institute that conducts research to realize The Kereppu spur dikes, made of brushwood, soil and stones, were constructed appropriately separate the Kiso-Sansen（lit. the Kiso harmonious coexistence between people and during the Meiji River Improvement Project（1887‒1912）. The purposes of the Three Rivers, i.e., the Kiso River, Nagara River and the natural environments of rivers and lakes construction were to prevent riverbed scouring by moderating water flows so Ibi River）, which used to fl ow in a meshed pattern around estuaries, into three rivers, as they are in ＊ Purpose as to promote deposition of sediments, and thereby ensure the safety of levee The Aqua Restoration revetments, and maintain the width and depth of low-flow channels.（The Kiso their present form. The Meiji River Improvement Research Center（ARRC） Project was completed in March 1912. aims to conduct fundamental River Kereppu spur dikes zone was designated as a Civil Engineering Heritage by and applied research to the Japan Society of Civil Engineers in fi scal 2000.） Johannes de Rijke conserve and restore the More than 100 years after the dikes’ completion, now a variety of aquatic and natural environments of rivers, lakes and the like, and to wetland plant communities have been formed in diverse riverbank environments, disseminate such research playing an important role as egg-laying sites or harboring places for aquatic results widely. animals. ＊ Experimental streams and ponds The ARRC has three Wando environment located around 19.8 km upstream on the right bank of the Kiso River experimental streams of 800 m in length, and six experimental ponds. Using these streams and ponds, the ARRC conducts research into the interaction between organisms and river environments. The shapes of experimental streams can be changed, and the flow rates can be also controlled to simulate artifi cial fl oods. ＊ Open for the public to visit and tour the ARRC The ARRC has opened its experimental streams for the public to tour and visit. By making advance reservations, visitors can participate in a one-to-two-hour tour guided by dedicated staff members, who outline the research done by ARRC and give explanation of the experimental streams. ＊ Environmental education programs As a public research facility, the ARRC also provides environmental education programs to give participants a better understanding of the river environment. For more information, visit the following website of the ARRC. Kiso River in Showa 20s（1935‒1944）（around 24.0 km upstream on the right bank） This photo is a reproduction of the Aerial photograph taken by US Army with its approval http://www.pwri.go.jp/team/kyousei/jpn/index.htm