Toward the creation of watershed-community: From the case of the Iwaki River watershed-community
2006
Yamashita, Y.(Hirosaki Univ., Aomori (Japan)) | Sawada, S. | Tanaka, S. | Kudo, A.
This study examined the possibility of cooperation in recovery efforts of a river ecology. The Iwaki River, located in western Aomori Prefecture, has been subject to degradation since the 1960s. This study outlined 40-plus year process of Change surrounding the Iwaki River as related to disaster prevention, agricultural activities, and civil life (excluding industry, as a feature of this river). We characterize this process as three phases. Phase 1 (pre- 1960) was a period of struggle against nature in which the river remained abundantly natural. Phase 2 (1960-1970) was the turning point, characterized by the completion of disaster prevention and agricultural development projects, ushering in a modern consumer-based lifestyle which increasingly impacted on the river. Phase 3 (post-1970) is a period of resulting ecological degradation for the river. At present, new problems are emerging, so the river is facing a new phase. The research concludes that this river degradation is the result of complex interactions among many variables, and thus the resolution of such degradation depends on the creation of a Watershed-Community and cooperation among all involved parties. The presentation concluded by considering the possibility of the establishment of such a Watershed-Community.
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