(2) Actively preserving, reviving, ad creating a healthy environment

We strive to efficiently utilize dredged sediment derived from harbor maintenance, by usage in creating tidal flats, sand capping, filling pits from deep digging, and disseminating port facilities that can coexist with organisms. After the projects have been started, we will continuously monitor the status after maintenance by implementing adaptable management methods. Various organizations such as administrative agencies and research institutes will register environmental data and construct a sharable database on the ocean environment; gathering, accumulating and analyzing data. Together, we actively work to preserve, revive and create a rich natural environment in coastal areas.

In addition, the “Seaside Nature School”, which utilizes the areas preserved, revived or created, is being held in various locations throughout Japan as an effort to create opportunities for learning the importance of the natural environment.

## (3) Initiatives in measures for preventing illegal boat parking

Because illegally parked boats affect the navigation and anchorage of vessels, coastal recreation, and fishing activities, as well as raising concerns over secondary damages from tsunamis, regulatory measures are being implemented for the specification of parking prohibited zones and the enhancement of mooring capabilities for small vessels.

In May 2013, the Ministry developed the “Promotion Plan for comprehensive measures for the proper management of pleasure boats and the improvement of their use environment” in working towards the elimination of abandoned boats.

## 5 Greening roads and promoting natural environmental measures

Greening roads is crucial for providing a comfortable atmosphere for those who use them, creating favorable scenery that matches the surrounding scenery, and as a countermeasure against heat island effects. For this reason, the technology standards relating to greening roads are being reviewed to promote favorable greening of roads as well as their efficient maintenance. In addition, we strive to preserve and revive the environment by avoiding road construction, even in the planning stages, in areas that are valuable natural environments, or to try to minimize the effects or implement alternative measures if it cannot be avoided.

Figure II-8-3-3

Example of Greening Roads (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Source) MLIT

## Section 4

## Maintenance or Recovery of a Healthy Water Cycle

## Becoming a society that can enjoy the blessings of water

Thus far, the development of water resources development facilities were promoted because of the priority placed on ensuring the balance of water supply and demand in response to the rapid increase in water demand in the post-war high-growth period. On the other hand, there is pressure to respond to the various challenges that have emerged such as the vulnerability of water infrastructure like the occurrence of long-term, wide-area suspension of water supply resulting from large-scale disasters and aging facilities, the risk of climate change due to global warming, societal demands for maintaining and recovering a healthy water cycle as well as strengthening Japan’s presence in contribution on an international level and competitiveness over international markets.

Based on the above conditions, on October 22, 2013, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism submitted a queried the National Land Development Council regarding the “Direction to be taken on future water resources policies”. The response to this query was given on March 25, 2015.