4. Partnerships in Nature Restoration Projects
Partnerships are vital for nature restoration efforts. In order to build effective
partnerships, various considerations should be afforded.
4.1 Preconditions for developing partnerships(1) Partnerships based on the local views of nature
In order to build partnerships based on the local views on nature, the discussions
should be conducted under the flexible approaches tailored to the local community
and its participants.
The views on nature held by the locals in a community, which have been mouldedby the relationships between the natural environment and the people’s lives (2.2
Understanding the relationships between people’s lives and coastal environment),
are integral elements to be considered.
People’s views on nature vary not only by time and place, generation, andoccupation, but also by how the person relates his/her life to nature. For asuccessful coordination of such diverse values, therefore, discussions must be
conducted on the understanding of such difference. The holding of open discussions
whereby diverse values are recognized by one another, seem to reflect the local
characteristics and are quite effective. The project administrators are, therefore,
required to run the meeting with a flexible approach tailored to a local community
and its participants.
1) Range of participants
The list of participants involved in the discussion must include local residents ascore members, along with parities and personnel needed for effective partnershipbuilding. This is not intended to place restrictions on participants but to ensurethat all the entities necessary for the discussion to proceed are included. For aproject to create a tidal flat or a restoration project for environmental remediation,
the group of participants would include; local residents, fishermen, farmers, landowners, people in commerce and industries, environmental NGOs, stakeholders inlocal municipalities, experts and researchers in the environmental studies, alongwith the policy makers and the project administrators.
The range of topics should also vary depending on the properties of the target
coasts. For instance, the target coast could be a coast mostly visited by the locals, a
coast utilized for tourism and leisure activities, a coast with ecological coexistence69issues, a coast that might end up attracting few tourists, or even cliff shores with ahigh degree of naturalness that are inaccessible to the public and so on. Some
topics or objectives of the discussion may require setting up an opportunity forvisitors and general public to join in the discussion.
Having a discussion on the means to disclose information, such as the issuance of
newsletters or the holding of open seminars, would also be useful in terms ofwidening the range of participants involved in the discussion.
2) The relationship between a local community and the experts
Researchers and experts engaged in environmental planning for coasts andharbors, including the persons in charge in the administration, are often “visitors”
to the project area. It is therefore, important to conduct filed surveys throughwhich the existing conditions of the project area can be learned. Such surveys could
not only develop their deep interest in the target area and thus promote highquality performance of their work, but also provide local residents with
opportunities to unfold the latent local information, knowledge or experiences
through dialogue with these experts. Things that some may take for granted could
be of great value to a nation or the world as a whole. Furthermore, taking
advantage of such intellectual property offered by the local community, the experts’
experiences and general knowledge can be merged and in doing so giving an
opportunity to experts to gain a wealth of knowledge.
If such a process can be shared between local residents and experts, it will pave theway to a great partnership.
(2) Focal points of nature protection and nature restoration
Natural restoration, as shown in its definition, is not intended to choose,“conservation or development”. Its difference from nature conservation, however,must be recognized.
In past modifications of the environment made by human beings, the development
proposals were often made with the human being highest on the priority list, andthus the discussions had the tendency of veering to the alternative,“Development or Conservation”. Also, in some local communities, people share
mistrust towards environmental measures incorporated development projects andthis must be taken into account when a project is being formulated.
As defined in Chapter 1.2 (1) on “What is nature restoration?”, nature restoration70

is not a matter of choosing “development or conservation”, but the idea ofsubsuming such approaches. It actually requires tremendous societal andtechnological efforts to coordinate these approaches in the actual undertaking of
nature restoration. People may have a different interpretation or evaluation ofnature protection, conservation and restoration, in terms of various issue points.
In order to create better natural environments with the involvement of humanassistance, a systematic approach that incorporates monitoring programs andmodifications as shown in Figure 4-1, can be effectively used, with the common
ideals on the goals and objectives of the project.
4.2 Procedures for developing partnerships(1) Citizens’ involvement, goal setting and monitoring from the planning stage
The involvement of citizens involvement, clear goal setting, as well as thelaunching of monitoring at an early stage of the project, are desirable for the
striking up of an effective partnership.
Early-stage involvement of citizens, as part stakeholders, would benefit thepartnership building. This would enhance the chances of economical and prompt
consensus building towards nature restoration. (Brooke, 2002).
The early involvement of citizens could bring the following benefits:・

results of discussion are more likely to be reflected, such as the indication ofproblems in the planning stage, or project modification in response to thesolutions presented.

・

mutual understanding is promoted and a sense of involvement is fosteredthrough sharing problems

・

problems could be narrowed down through open discussions and the sharing ofcollective views, while in turn reducing the project cost.

Whereas the delays in their involvement may lead to:・difficulties in the project modification or in budgeting, due to the late indicationof problems and modification plans.

・a high possibility of insufficientmisunderstanding or conflict..

・

the creation of opposition against opposition, if problems are not clearlypresented

information,

which

may

lead

to

71

One of the purposes of partnership building is to set up a clear, concise, concrete
goal.
This goal, as described in Chapter 1.2. (1) on “What is nature restoration? “, musthave the objectives and achievement criteria present, of which concrete
formulation procedures are shown in Figure 4-1(Streever,2001).
The goal setting should be comprehensively carried out, judging from the results ofmonitoring programs along with determining the appropriateness of the objectives
and the project schemes.
In order to refine the project approaches into such comprehensive ones, it isadvisable to have an early commencement of monitoring programs featuring
discussions on the project objectives.
Setup of objectives, goals and achievement criteria
No
Selection of project area

Select this area?

Yes
Selection of the area

Preliminary survey

No

No
Feasibility of achieving purposes and objectives inthe selected area?

Are objectives and goals achievable?
Yes

Yes
Prepare detailed schemes

Modification to concrete schemes

Introduction of monitoring

Reexamination of former objective
and goals

No

Criteria achieved?
Yes
Success of the project

Modification of purpose and objectives

Figure 4.-1 Guideline for wetland restoration72

(2) Importance of the coordination between the government and the private sector,
and the allocation of their roles
The coordination of the government and the private sector is paramount in nature
restoration projects. The process of creating such collaboration, along with theallocation of roles are necessary for nurturing a successful partnership.
In many restoration projects, the government assumes the role of setting the rangeof participants and organizing meetings as a project investor.
The meeting should, however, be held in varying forms, depending on theparticipants, and purposes. It could be a committee, a technological seminar, or an
open discussion. To supplement such a process in the arrangement of meetings, thedisclosure of the agenda and minutes and the publication of evaluation results, aswell as the issuing of newsletters, can be considered as being useful means toenhance information sharing.
These meetings offer an interpersonal experience. The important views in building
relationships are:・ Sharing of information
・ Coordination in work
・ Reflection of the results of discussions on the project.
This course of efforts is considered as a necessary process of fostering mutual trust.
The allocation of roles and the scope of each party’s responsibility should be madeclear to make such a process work effectively. To gain a positive outcome from ameeting, it is of extreme importance that the purpose of the meeting, thepreconditions, or the means in which the results are reflected or publicized beconfirmed in advance among the participants. For instance, the meeting may
require scientists to prove the credibility of the discussion subject using scientificmeans, or may require local residents to discover and demonstrate local
information, knowledge or experiences lying dormant in their community. It should
be noted that although each party carries responsibility for their roles, that does
not necessarily restrict the boundary of discussion. The participants should havediscussions based on their roles, exchange opinions, and understand the views ofother parties.
The staff of the government and local authorities whose roles and responsibilities
are often legally clarified, should provide a sufficient explanation on such legal
backgrounds and restrictions, prior to the project implementation. The allocation ofroles with such adequate provision of information is inevitable in building mutual
trust.

73

(3) Things to avoid
Any deeds that may hinder the establishment of mutual trust should be eliminatedin the process of building partnerships.
Mutual trust plays a key role in building partnerships.
The administration should pay heed to avoid any of the following scenarios:・

Making remarks stating that they shouldn’t have listened to the citizens’
opinions

・

Making remarks insinuating that the project planning would have been mucheasier without the participation of citizens

・ Requesting the names of a list of people against the project・ Attempting to invade the privacy of people in opponent groups
・ Disclosing information only to a portion of the parties concerned.
The citizens should pay heed to avoid any of the following scenarios:・Bracketing the government staff as “bearcats”, and snip a bud of new policy
measures.

Harshly accusing the government staff in charge and in doing so turning themagainst the citizens.
It is important to set in place ample opportunity for uniform communication
between all participants. One-sided discussions would only lead to inevitablemisunderstanding.
On the other hand, there are also definite musts that shouldn’t be forgotten.
・

・
・
・

Continuing discussion, through the networks of participants
Sharing data that can support scientific discussions
Facilitating understanding by producing necessary materials using graphics
and photos.

4. 3 Useful examples
Open discussions, where different values are recognized, can take various forms,
depending on the region or participants involved.
The following are some examples of coastal improvement projects, which may lend
a hand when conducting discussions or organizing meetings.
(1) Oshinden Coast, Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture1) Background and regional characteristics
This area is a huge tidal flat with a shoreline spanning about 10km in length andcovering an area of 1,347 ha. It is a well renowned shell fishery ground and home74

to a number of rare marine species, including helmet crabs, Sillago parvisquamis
gill, amphioxus (Lancelet), and finless porpoise.
On the other hand, several dams have been built in the Yamakuni River, theprimary river flowing into the sea in this area. The waters in this area haveundergone many development projects, including port and fishing port
development, fishing ground improvements, and dredging work for a fairway. The
impacts caused by these projects have required the urgent need for measures to betaken concerning the proper management of water and sediment, as well as
ecosystems. In 1999, the reclamation work and fairway dredging were conducted aspart of a port improvement plan and drew serious concerns over the conservationof the tidal flat environment inside and outside the region. Among them, thedisappearance of the natural coasts and habitats for rare species raised questions
about the validity of coastal protection work. In response to this, the Port andHarbor Section of Oita Prefecture, the project administrator, set up a two-year
moratorium on the project to explore alternative measures. By this moratorium anadvisory council consisting of local volunteers, the administration and experts was
set up and open discussions were held. The topics of the discussions included the
proposal for; the creation of a vision for the direction of tidal flat conservation, theconceptual vision of a restoration project, and zoning that could be tailored to thefeatures of the local environment. Following several plenary meetings, further
meetings on specific topics were held, with the main topic being strategies toconserve the natural coasts, the long-standing issue for this area. The efforts madehere have also become a precious experience, as a comprehensive environmental
survey based on the citizens’ ideas and planning was actually implemented.
Although discussions on the coastal management plans aimed at tidal flat
conservation or “wide use” have been taking place around the nation, the detailed
and systematic study on the natural history or local history of each tidal flat havebeen far and few between. For a post-project management plan to gain somesemblance of accuracy, an insight into the following would be necessary: a grasp ofnatural/local history and transitions of the target tidal flat, such as biota, usage
patterns by local residents or visitors, the reasons for the construction of existing
artificial structures, as well as the changes in topography and currents. With thedata provided only from the governmental surveys or the surveys by research
institutes, the knowledge and information needed for nature restoration areseriously lacking. Such surveys show low continuity, which also would make it
difficult for researchers to encounter experience-based wisdom. These backgrounds

75

highlighted the significant role of the research voluntarily conducted by local
residents, and the expansion of such activities, combined with school and social
education programs in the region, will be expected.
Using this example of the tidal flat research planned by citizens, as well as theformulation of the conservation plan for the coastal environment based on it, thepossibility of the monitoring programs and conservation plans for the tidal flat
environments in the future, were explored.
2) Setup of an advisory council and the positioning of citizens’ participation
In the report on the port improvement impact study for the protection of rare
species in the above area, which was issued from the Port and Harbor Section of
Oita Prefecture in 1999, the proposals were made on: the active participation of
local residents in the conservation and utilization of the tidal flat environment;
information disclosure and a set up of opportunities for discussion.
In response to this, Oita Prefecture decided to hold open discussions consisting of
the administration, academics and the private sector, in which the collaboration
between the administration and local residents engaged in the activities in tidal
flats was discussed. These discussions saw the setup of an advisory council to thedirection of Oshinden District, which occupies an area of 427 ha and shoreline
length of 2.5km out of Natsu Tidal Flat. This advisory council was composed ofpeople with various ideas and different positions, encompassing local residents,
staff of the Port and Harbor section of the prefecture and construction office ascoast managers, city experts and committee members selected from among the
public.
Five plenary meetings and four sectional meetings were held. The scientist-led
tidal flat research team also participated, and submitted basic proposals on tidal
flat zoning, which was designed to manage tidal flats from the viewpoints ofecosystem, physical environments, fisheries and utilization (Figure 5-1).
Although the plans made through such meetings are not legally binding and thus
has no coercive power, given the fact that the decisions were made by both local
residents and administrative authorities, they would not be easily ignored in the
future management or development. At the same time, it should be noted that local
residents and council members should remember the process of discussion, andanticipate keenly the outcome of their efforts.

76

Basic policies on conservation and wise use of nature resources in Oshinden
1.Basic policy on marine resource conservation and the promotion of fishery
For sustainable development in fishery, due attention should be paid to the marine
environment. The tidal flat extending off the cost of Oshinden plays a significant role insupporting the fishing industry in Nakatsu area. We shall direct our efforts towards
sustainable fishery and pay due attention to the surrounding marine environment. When theneeds arise for development projects (land fill, land reclamation, sand capping), appropriate
discussions shall be carried out between fishermen, local residents, and experts.
2.Basic policy on the better understanding of a waterfront environment and wise use
Oshinden Coast is home to rare marine species and boasts a rich ecosystem.
While maintaining the current nature environment, our intention is to create a coast wherechildren can learn about the local climate and biological diversity and which in turn can beused by the general public for recreational activities.
3.Basic policy on conservation of historical landscape
The area encompassing pine forests and the estuarine area of the Maite River represents ahistorical landscape of the Nakatsu area. Envisioning that this area be improved and conserved
as a nature park, we shall hold discussions with a wide range of parties, including landowners,
local residents, and the administration.
4.Basic policy on ensuring the benefit of natural resources in Oshinden be handed down tofuture generations, making it a common asset.
To conserve and enhance natural environment leads to an improved local development andquality of life. We shall promote the accumulation of information on various studies andresearch, as well as the sharing of information and knowledge.
The government and private sector will work hand in hand to raise awareness of the naturalenvironment and moral improvement, as well as the progressive development of local
communities.

Figure 5-1 Tidal flat zoning proposed by the Advisory Council of Nakatsu kou
Oshinden773) Coastal planning and citizen-driven research
Among the topics of the open panel discussion, including the ecologicalmanagement strategies in Oshinden District, the issue of the coasts also appearedon the agenda.
In the estuarine area of the Maite River, adjacent to the port facilities, thirty rare
species of plants and shellfish such as Henatari (Cerithidea cingulata) wereidentifies, along with a number of helmet crab spawning grounds, leading to the
proposal of area conservation that would be compatible with environmental
conservation and disaster prevention.
Complementally and mutually reinforcing, the efforts made by the government
with their surveys and the research project driven by the citizens has brought
about the whole picture of the tidal flat in Oshinden Coast.
In the surveys carried out by the government, a detailed study on biota wasconducted, which required a lot of knowledge and a huge budget. The local stories
and historical data on tidal flats, coasts, and estuaries, as well as past and present
situations of the tidal flats as fishing grounds were also explored.
This report is marked by not only the research driven by the citizens but also thecollaboration of the members of the advisory council, in sharing the research work
load and writing the reports. The graphics used to illustrate the survey results(Figure 5-2) were also effective for the discussions between those of differingexpertise and background. The presentation using graphics inspired theimagination of the surveyed site and helped those not particularly well versed in
the field of the species naming, to gain a decent understanding.

78

Figure 5-2 Results of the environmental surveys in the estuary of Maite River4) Research using photos; talks and discussion between local residents and experts
Several photos were used in the research. Some methods using such photos areshown here. As the knowledge on the past features of the coasts was needed as
basic information platform, aerial photos and old photos kept by residents werecollected, and analyzed as the basis for environmental restoration (Kiyono,2003).
Through photo-interpretation and hearing, basic knowledge on environmental
succession and the citizens’ views of nature in the Nakatsu area, were obtained. It
also enabled panel members to narrow down the topics under discussion, alongwith the specific information on the coasts and their hinterland. As an example,
the time span of landscape creation was specified by photo-interpretation. Fromthe history of soil excavation, one wetland was found to be secondary topography.
To aid in reaching the goal of restoration and to gain further insight, the pastsituations of the coasts were also explored from stories told by local residents.
The map overlay, where the information obtained by local residents, including
subjective ones, was integrated with objective material such as photos and maps,
was carried out to analyze the relationship, in chronological order, and this also

79

proved to be effective.
Other facts discovered about Oshinden Coast are: the coastal landscapes of bygone
days still embraced in residents’ memories were those of the 1950s, long before
afforrestation; and there seemed to have been an access road to a tidal flat for acommunity of people who made a living on both agriculture and fishery.
These photographical analyses were made through the process of conversing withlocal residents. The residents added their local information to the old aerial photos
and maps presented by scientists. In such interactions, information on the local
coasts and local characteristics was obtained by the scientists and engineers
working side by side. This process in itself is regarded to have contributed to theability for rational discussions to be carried out on coastal planning.
5) Conditions for the comprehensive tidal flat research under the citizens’ initiative
The following factors can be thought to have contributed to the realization of theimplementation of the comprehensive tidal flat research planned by the citizens:a) The high potential of natural observation programs and educationalorganizations in the area supported the smooth implementation of theresearch.
b) The research was designed to make allowances not only for rare species,
but also for ecosystems and tidal flat environments.
c) The keenness of residents to learn about the coasts and social systems
involved in port management facilitated the discussions on management.
d) The research results were shown both in the species list and on the naturalenvironmental information map. This map could visually deliver theimages of ecosystems to many people.
e) As the research included local history as well as natural environment
issues, it was not difficult to stimulate interest from local residents.
f) The research results were swiftly forwarded and used in local schools andeducational environments.
g) Coastal managers appreciated the research activities carried out by
citizens, and set an environment in place for easier access of the baseline
data. They also gained the cooperation of the fishermen’s union by
explaining to them the project outline.
Sharing the superb benefit of cost-efficiency, infiltration to local communities, andfeedback to schools and social education, it is highly desirable that theimplementation of such research with the citizen’s initiative, be conducted in many80

coasts around the nation, and thus the information-sharing between local
communities and the administration be advanced still further.
(2) Efforts made for the coasts in Beppu Port
1) Background and local characteristics
The City of Beppu is an international city witnessing the arrival of more than ten
million tourists a year, and it’s home to Beppu Hot spring worldly renowned for its
flow rate and water quality. Before World War II, sand bath hot springs on thebeach front were prominent. The coastlines are, however, mostly enclosed byvertical walls and wave-dissipating blocks following reclamation projects carriedout since the Taisho Era, consequently leaving just a small portion of natural coast.
The houses and hotels hugging the shoreline are no strangers to damage by hightides or storm waves. This shoreline configuration has not only made it difficult forpeople to gain access to the water, but has also had an adverse effect on thelandscape.
Under such circumstances, a government-funded high tide countermeasure project
was adopted for the coasts in this area as shown in Figure 5-3. This project,launched in 2001, included measures to prevent overtopping by typhoons andimprovement work on old revetments along the shore. The Beppu Port and Airport
Construction Office, Kyushu Regional Development Bureau, the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport has been in charge of the project.
The project area is located in the city’s central urban area, an area where bothtourists and citizens have a close relationship with the sea. Thus, the project was
designed to incorporate from the planning stage onwards the opinions of thecitizens, through interactive communication, as they are after all the most frequent
users of the coast.

81

北浜１地区

北浜２地区

域
港 湾 区
別 府 港

北浜地区
的ヶ浜地区

Ho’＝2.5ｍ

石垣地区

餅ケ浜地区

Ho’＝2.4ｍ

上人ヶ浜地区

Ho’＝2.2ｍ

旅客船ふ頭

浜脇地区

Ho’＝2.5ｍ

Ho’＝2.5ｍ

フェリーふ頭ＳＰＡビーチ
国道１０号
ＪＲ日豊本線

別府駅

別府大学駅

整備対象地区
今回検討対象地区

0

1000

2000m

Figure 5-3 High tide Countermeasure Project in Beppu PortThe coastlines are mostly enclosed by vertical walls and wave-dissipating blocks.

2) Project plan formulation with residents
In 2001, the first scheduled year, the work was mostly focused on the surveying of
project areas with their existing situations, and discussion of the project plan by
the committee with its experts.
The coastal planning through communication with residents started in 2002.
The following is the outline of progress.
a) Discussion meeting
Aim: to collect opinions from local experts; to deepen discussions and advertisethe project on the grounds of the outcomes.
Times and dates: First round: October 2nd, 2001, Second round: March 12th,
2002, Third round: March 10th,2003
Number of participants: First round: 3 representatives from the private sector,
3 representatives from the administration, Second round: 6 representatives
from the private sector, 1 representative form the administration, Third round:
12 representatives from the private sector.
Outcome: the minutes of the discussion were published in a leaflet anddistributed among the parties concerned and workshop participants.
b) Field trip with residents : one-day trip was organized by the private sector
and the administration to observe from the sea the coasts of Beppu

82

Aim: to observe Beppu from land and the sea; to go into in depth discussions on
the existing situations
Times and dates: July 20th, 2002, 13:00-14:30
Participants: local residents and media approx. 15 representatives
Response: the sight of Beppu from the sea prompted the utterance of opinions
and surprise from a number of participants on boardc) Workshops with an aim of improving the coasts of Beppu Port, etc.
Aim: to gain an understanding of the opinions and ideas of local residents
interested in the project, through interactive communication
Times and dates: from August 2002 to December 2002, 12 times (4 times foreach of the 3 districts)
Participants: total number of participants for all the workshops 275 (maximum
attendance 44, minimum attendance 13); exchange session attended by 33
participants.
Feedback form Participants:- opinions were not limited to the target coasts, but also on related matters- an agreement on the way ahead for the coasts in two Kitaha District could
not be reached, requiring further discussions. For the other coasts concerned,
the overall plan of action was presented.
- the exchange session was more like a learning session with fewer
participants.This session however, was much appreciated by its
participants.

Photo 5-1 Field trip with residents

83d) Symposium on Improving Coasts in Beppu
Aim: to have a grasp of residents’ opinions, stimulate discussions, set up an
opportunity to officially present the outcome of the workshops and to seek
understanding
Times and dates: March 8th, 2003
Contents: lectures by experts, presentations by each workshop representative,
panel discussion, Q & A session involving the audience
Participants: approximately 300
Response: quite a high interest was observed. The questionnaire conducted
after the symposium showed (the number of returns: approx. 160):-symposium was useful; 78%-keen to join workshop if held; 68%e) Questionnaire survey
Aim: to gain a overall idea of the unspecified majority of residents on the project
Period: June 2002 to July 2002
Target: citizens in general 1,011, organizations and businesses
277,→ the number of returns 375, return rate 29.5%
Results: problems related to garbage and litter were popular. Negative images
were mostly given of the existing conditions of the coasts. Coasts were often used
for recreational walks and the demand for their improvement was high.
f) Home page for the secretariat
Aim: to advertise to the general public (PC users) and collect opinions
Contents: outline of the project area, reports from workshops, questionnaires
etc.
Number of Access: more than 2,000 per month. Questionnaire return rate waspoor.
g) Electric bulletin board reading “Beppu-kou no Kaignsen wo Kangaeru” (for acity with an enjoyable coastal environment)
Aim: to provide opportunities for the exchange of opinions among residents,
unspecified but interested in citizen-driven projects
Setup: August 2002
Address: http://www.beppu-port.go.jp
http://www.oitayori.com/beppu8to/seaside/mbbs.cgi
Number of messages received: 40 by the end of February 2002

84

Outline: a proposal to set up an electric bulletin board for coastal improvement
was made by the project administrator to one of the community planning
organizations in the city. About two weeks later, the bulletin board was set up.
This organization was aware of the fact that concrete-covered coasts were
inappropriate for a hot spring resort like Beppu, so swift action was taken.

3) Lessons learnt from the residents’ participation in the projecta) Having only a few precedents of coastal improvement projects involving
residents’ participation, there was initially a little confusion involving bothparties.
b) To remove such confusion, brief explanations on the coastal improvement
project were given with the use of videos. Such efforts facilitated active
discussions and opinions in the latter stages.
c) There was a trend seen in which fewer responses or less participation wasreceived from people in the early teen and thirties brackets. It could beassumed that the current generation of middle-aged people have had theexperience of bathing on the beaches before development and thus haveconnections with and memories of the sea, whereas the younger generations
have grown up knowing only the difficulty of gaining access to the sea,hence showing little interest in the project. This is an area that should betargeted discussion wise.
d) Some local residents have never seen the view of Beppu from the sea. There
were more astonished or surprised faces than could have ever been
imagined implying their minimal contact with the sea.
e) The opinions of the residents living along the coasts differ from those wholive far from the coasts. The former tend to mention disaster preparedness
or the possible effects caused by the project, whereas the latter tends toemphasize the accessibility of the coasts. This difference features thecharacteristic aspect of the demand for coasts.
f) There is a need to work on the improvement of communication skills. In thisexample, thanks to the efforts made by persons in charge and theparticipants involved, the discussions were not slowed down specifically bypoor communication. In order to apply these efforts to a wider array of
projects, there is the need; to develop the human resources that can run ameeting smoothly, to correctly understand what is being said, to describe85

clearly and concisely the necessary information, and to elicit the adequate
opinions of others. Workshops to train personnel in such ways areimperative.
(3) Efforts made in Tsumatsusaka (Niezaki District)
1) Overview
The Port of Tsumatsusaka was catastrophically damaged by Typhoon No.13 (1953)
and The Isewan Typhoon (1959). As part of its post-disaster restoration work, theseawalls were improved. Forty years on the facilities have aged, and the crownheight of the sea walls has not been adequately secured because of groundsettlement, which has brought concerns involving high tide damage. This saw thelaunching of coastal improvement work in 2002. The Yokkaichi Port and Airport
Office, Chubu Regional Improvement Bureau has been in charge of the running of
this project.
Niezaki is a stretch of coastline situated in the foreground of the central urban
area of Tsu City where the City Hall and other government buildings stand side byside. The characteristics of such a location have brought with it a lot of property
development, an increase in population that goes with it. This area is the also
proposed access base for Chubu International Airport, and therefore requires
coastal improvement integrated with the town development of the background area.
The residents have, therefore, shown quite a high interest in the development,
which has brought with it their participation in the development.

Photo 5-2 Aerial photo of the coastal improvement project area in The Port ofTsumatsusaka

862) Outline of the progress in the participation of citizensa) Discussion meetingFirst round: “Community development taking advantage of the Tsumatsusaka
Coast “(meeting with NPOs)
Member:Toshihiko Sekine

Yorio Sakeu

Hirotsuna Kume

Tetsuya Kodera

Harumi Kashiwagi

Hajime Sawa

Chairperson: Hajime Tazaki
Purpose: with the participation of academic experts and local representatives,the discussion was made on the coastal development of Tsumatsusaka Port.
The topics included the measures to create safe and comfortable coastal space,along with the direction for realizing the adequate development andconservation of national land incorporating the aspects of the environment andland use. The community development programs for Tsu and Matsusaka areas
were also discussed.
b) Questionnaire on the coastal improvement for Niezaki Coast
Mailed : June 7th, 2002. Collected: June 20th, 2002
Target: residents living along Niezaki Coast<Excerpts from results>○ Use of the coast: more than half of the respondents are non-users with thereason being; a lack of fascination for the sea, no attracting facilities, andpoor access.
○ Impression of the coast: very few sandy beaches and pine forests lacking theresources boasted by the natural environment, littering problem, dullness,lack of excitement○ Request for coastal improvement: creating an environment where people
would live in harmony with nature, revitalizing local communities,
improving and conserving water quality, sandy beaches, and marineorganisms (fish and shellfish)c) Workshop for coastal improvement■Briefing May 22nd, 2002
Explanations on the purpose of setting up a workshop, briefing on the
project, and the participation of residents in project schemes■Excursion to the project area
● “Let’s look at the coast in our hometown”

87The workshop members and representatives from the Keiwa Resident
Association took an inspection tour through the Karasu and Mikumo
Disctricts, which are currently under an improvement project, to gain afirsthand insight of such a project. A questionnaire was conducted after the
tour.
Target: residents living along Niezaki Coast<Excerpts from results>○ Compared to other districts, Niezaki Coast was given the image of being
monotonous, small, solid, unbalanced, and unrefined.
■Workshop (round No.1) (June 22th, 2002)● “Let’s make an information map for Niezaki Coast”
Participants discussed what they knew about Neizaki Coast and put suchinformation on the map.
● “Let’s talk about the future of Niezaki Coast”
Discussion on: “How you would like Niezaki to look?” and “ In what ways
you would like Niezaki to be utilized?”○ Main opinions
・ The future directions should be directed towards local characteristics
such as historical characteristics and the characteristics of Niezaki as agateway to air and sea transport.
・The landscape should be designed in a way that would leave it cherished
for years to come.

・

Coastal improvement should secure consistency with port development
projects

・The future or further construction of stair-stepped seawalls should not
be implemented because of the criticism arising stating that theseseawalls are detrimental towards sand beaches.

・Care should be taken as to how much consideration is afforded to each
opinion.

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Photo 5-3 Workshop (round No.1) (June 22th, 2002)■Workshop (round No.2) (October 19th,2002)● “Let’s draw up the basic concepts”
Participants were briefed on the outcomes of the first round. Based on thetentative basic conceptual drawing presented in the first round, theparticipants discussed their request on the formulation of the drawing in
the workshop. Explanations were given regarding the institutional
constraints in coastal improvement.
○ Main opinions
・ Some people were skeptical about the possibility of being able to restore
or sustain sand beaches. However slim the possibility may be, theywould still like to try.
・The historical connection with the Grand Shrine of Ise should be
rediscovered and emphasized.

・ Explanations on local NPOs
■Mini-workshop (December 19,2002)●Let’s look at the project designs using CG
The improvement project designs (CG) were observed and discussed. This
was arranged in preparation for submission to the 2nd committee meeting.
■ Workshop (round No.3) (February 11th,2003)●Let’s look at the prepared project designs
Participants were briefed on the improvement designs prepared throughdiscussions in the previous workshops as well those in the committee
meetings.

893) Lessons learnt from citizen involvementa) The residents in this area share a keen interest in community planning andactive discussions were made from the first round of the workshop. Somepeople were particularly concerned that the workshop efforts were being
merely used as excuses, showing strong commitment to the project planning.
b) In the initial stages of the discussion, the request for the facilities
improvement not associated with coastal improvements, such as restaurants,
camp sites or parks was widely voiced. As the discussion progressed,
however, a view emerged emphasizing that such projects were not an
integral part of coastal improvement per se, and should therefore bepromoted by the local community.
c) The discussion was further developed into the improvement designs thatwould facilitate residents’ involvement, such as the upkeep of vegetation inwave-splash zones, demonstrating the positive attitudes of residents
towards the coastal management.
d) From the standpoint of dealing with the reinforcement of coastal protection
function and the securing of water accessibility, the thickening of seawalls or
the application of gently-sloped walls were initially proposed, but many
residents showed concerns over the loss of sand beaches associated withsuch modifications. There were those calling for the construction of gently
sloping sea walls that would enable access to the water, and others in favourof the construction of slender sea walls wherever possible. Even on such
issues of potential conflict, discussions were held several times in theworkshops to offer a better understanding of the advantages anddisadvantages of different sea wall configurations and finally reaching anagreement based on the premise that sand beaches be conserved to thefurthest possible extent.
e) With regards to the facility improvement, which can not be implemented dueto the institutional difficulty of coastal projects, it was found that people
would be in favour of free and vigorous discussion as opposed to just being
briefed and that such topics or matters should be openly discussed. (However,it must be clearly stated that coastal projects can not cover this area.)f) Some important safety information was also obtained. Past marine accidents
indicate the existence of dangerous sea areas due to tidal current
movements and the waters of such segments of coast should not be provided
with easy accessibility for obvious reasons.

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5

Postface

This Handbook of Costal Restoration – Planning, Technologies, andImplementation, Volume One: Introduction is based on the previously issued three
volumes of the guidance manual titled Guideline for the Conservation andCreation of ecosystems in relation to Coastal Development: Volume 2 Technologies
for the Conservation and Creation of Tidal Flats (1988), Volume 3 Technlogies for
the Conservation and Creation of Seaweed and Seagrass Beds(1998), and Volume
4: Technologies for the Conservation and Creation of Coral Reefs (1999).
Reviewing these manuals, Handbook of Costal Restoration summarizes the ideas
on strategic and cross-cutting approaches needed for nature restoration projects.
New perspectives are:
○ A strategic approach encompassing planning, designs, construction andmanagement
Adaptive management on which post-project monitoring results are reflected
A philosophy of nature restoration: “restoration” with human assistance
Habitat restoration using the self-designing of nature
Building partnerships between the participation of various entities from theadministration and the private sector
An effort has been made to ensure that the explanation of these perspectives be
described concretely and succinctly. Some parts may however lack detail, therefore
we hope that the reference material listed at the back of this book, along withcompanion volumes 2 to 4, will assist you in applying restoration approaches
flexibly and in accordance with the regional characteristics and project objectives.
○○○○

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