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Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan

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Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan A handbook for practitioners preparedness, are found everywhere in the nature, which provides us sustenance but also country. The Japanese also have a tradition of major perils. We were also made aware of the utilizing ecosystems for mitigating disaster, such need for more comprehensive disaster risk Ecosystem-based Disaster as by maintaining forests to prevent soil erosion, reduction strategies in preparation for disasters planting pine trees along the coast to mitigate that surpass our worst-case scenarios, including winds and blown sand, planting bamboo trees the review of national land use and management Risk Reduction in Japan along river banks to reduce flooding, and using in addition to approaches focusing on artificial rice paddies as temporary water reservoirs. structures. However, as nationwide development and social In order for us to enjoy safe and affluent living, transformation progressed along with the rapid we must find new ways to live with nature. To Japan is an archipelago of several thousand river flooding, and landslides, which have been population and economic growth during the this effect, a new concept called “ecosystem-based islands stretching some 3,000 kilometers from causing great damage to society, affecting postwar and subsequent years, Japan began to disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR)” is emerging north to south, sitting on the boundaries of people’s lives and properties since ancient times. lose its biodiversity, as well as reverence for that seeks to reduce disaster risks by harnessing multiple tectonic plates. Large differences in At the same time, the high rates of tectonic nature and traditional wisdom. In addition, as a the disaster preventing/mitigating functions of elevation between the coastal and mountainous activity created complex geography and a variety result of expanding residential development into healthy ecosystems. Ecosystem-based regional areas create steep terrain and many rapid rivers. of habitats, which make Japan one of the rare disaster-prone areas, substantial additional costs development programs are spreading worldwide, Japan is located in one of the world’s most countries in the world rich in scenic beauties and are being incurred for constructing, operating, including Green Infrastructure, an EU strategy seismically active areas and accounts for about biodiversity. and maintaining social infrastructure to protect aiming to create a network of healthy ecosystems 20 percent of the world’s large earthquakes as these areas. as part of social infrastructure to support well as about 10 percent of all active volcanoes Japanese people have long been cultivating a people’s lives. in the world. Japan has four distinct seasons sense of reverence for nature, which can be both The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of influenced by monsoon and heavy precipitation nurturing and destructive, and fostering wisdom March 2011, as well as the major radioactive This handbook introduces some approaches to especially during the rainy and typhoon seasons. and philosophy for adapting to and living in release caused by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster risk management based on a symbiotic harmony with nature instead of conquering it. Power Plant severe accident, led to tremendous relationship between nature and humanity, and Because of these geographic and climatic Sacred groves with shrines, as well as folklores damage to people’s livelihood and the surrounding compiles basic information on practical matters features, Japan is prone to frequent typhoons, and place names associated with disaster and natural environment. This experience reminded for reference. volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis, us once again that we are not separate from preparedness, are found everywhere in the nature, which provides us sustenance but also country. The Japanese also have a tradition of major perils. We were also made aware of the utilizing ecosystems for mitigating disaster, such need for more comprehensive disaster risk as by maintaining forests to prevent soil erosion, reduction strategies in preparation for disasters planting pine trees along the coast to mitigate that surpass our worst-case scenarios, including winds and blown sand, planting bamboo trees the review of national land use and management along river banks to reduce flooding, and using in addition to approaches focusing on artificial rice paddies as temporary water reservoirs. structures. However, as nationwide development and social In order for us to enjoy safe and affluent living, transformation progressed along with the rapid we must find new ways to live with nature. To Japan is an archipelago of several thousand river flooding, and landslides, which have been population and economic growth during the this effect, a new concept called “ecosystem-based islands stretching some 3,000 kilometers from causing great damage to society, affecting postwar and subsequent years, Japan began to disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR)” is emerging north to south, sitting on the boundaries of people’s lives and properties since ancient times. lose its biodiversity, as well as reverence for that seeks to reduce disaster risks by harnessing multiple tectonic plates. Large differences in At the same time, the high rates of tectonic nature and traditional wisdom. In addition, as a the disaster preventing/mitigating functions of elevation between the coastal and mountainous activity created complex geography and a variety result of expanding residential development into healthy ecosystems. Ecosystem-based regional areas create steep terrain and many rapid rivers. of habitats, which make Japan one of the rare disaster-prone areas, substantial additional costs development programs are spreading worldwide, Japan is located in one of the world’s most countries in the world rich in scenic beauties and are being incurred for constructing, operating, including Green Infrastructure, an EU strategy seismically active areas and accounts for about biodiversity. and maintaining social infrastructure to protect aiming to create a network of healthy ecosystems 20 percent of the world’s large earthquakes as these areas. as part of social infrastructure to support well as about 10 percent of all active volcanoes Japanese people have long been cultivating a people’s lives. in the world. Japan has four distinct seasons sense of reverence for nature, which can be both The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of influenced by monsoon and heavy precipitation nurturing and destructive, and fostering wisdom March 2011, as well as the major radioactive This handbook introduces some approaches to especially during the rainy and typhoon seasons. and philosophy for adapting to and living in release caused by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster risk management based on a symbiotic harmony with nature instead of conquering it. Power Plant severe accident, led to tremendous relationship between nature and humanity, and Because of these geographic and climatic Sacred groves with shrines, as well as folklores damage to people’s livelihood and the surrounding compiles basic information on practical matters features, Japan is prone to frequent typhoons, and place names associated with disaster and natural environment. This experience reminded for reference. volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis, us once again that we are not separate from Reforestation for preventing sediment discharge and floods (Source: Kobe City) Tree-planting by citizens 01 Why Is Eco-DRR Necessary for Our Future? 03 Benefits and Advantages of Eco-DRR 05 Traditional Eco-DRR Approaches Ecosystem-based Approaches 07 for Disaster Risk Reduction 09 Key Points in Adopting Eco-DRR Approaches 11 Reference Examples 16 Eco-DRR as Part of Administrative Policy in Japan 17 Q&A Coastal forest for preventing high tides and blown sand Cutting overgrown bamboo trees Rice terraces for mitigating floods Rice paddies for retarding floods (Source: Hyogo Pref.) Urban greenery for mitigating inundation Retarding reservoir for mitigating floods Restored wetland for mitigating floods (Source: Sapporo City) (Source: Aso GIAHS) Coral reef for damping high-wave energy Mangrove forest for mitigating damage from high tide Homestead woodland for windbreak Why Is Eco-DRR Nece ssary for Our Future? As population grew in Japan, with its limited flat areas, as well as by using healthy ecosystems as buffers, to after the World War II, residential development has protect people’s lives and properties. It also aims to expanded even to areas that are susceptible to natural reduce the vulnerability of society and build disaster. To protect such areas, social infrastructure disaster-resilient communities by harnessing the multiple projects have been implemented primarily by means of functions of ecosystems, such as provisioning of food and constructing artificial structures. materials. This concept is referred to as “Green Infrastructure” and is increasingly drawing attention However, the Great East Japan Earthquake generated globally in recent years. tsunami waves that far exceeded the design limits of such structures, causing massive damage. This experience Advantages and benefits of Eco-DRR include: (i) various compelled us to adopt a new approach to building effects becoming evident both at the time of disaster and disaster-resilient communities through “multiple during post-disaster rehabilitation period, (ii) protection” by combining physical and institutional effectiveness against various types of
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