### 4. Multifunctional roles of agriculture, forestry and the fisheries

(1) Agriculture

Flood prevention by retention and storage of rainwater	Function to prevent/alleviate flood by temporarily collecting rainwater in paddy fields surrounded by ridges and cultivated field soil.
Landslide prevention	Function to prevent slope failure by detecting and repairing the failure of farmlands at an early stage through agricultural production activities in sloping farmlands, or to prevent landslides by holding down sudden rises in the groundwater level by allowing rainwater to permeate slowly underground through the cultivation of fields.
Soil erosion prevention	Function to prevent the erosion of soil caused by rainwater and wind, with the surface of water covering paddy fields or with the foliage and stems of crops in fields.
Water recharge	Rainwater and agricultural water for paddy fields seep underground and over time returns to the river, and water that seeps further below cultivates underground watersheds.
Water purification	Water purification is achieved the decomposition of organic material in paddy and dry fields, the absorption of nitrogen by crops, and the removal of nitrogen by microorganisms.
Decomposition of organic waste	Microorganisms within paddy and dry fields such as bacteria decompose livestock waste and compost made from household waste. The decomposed material is eventually reabsorbed by crops.
Climate mitigation	Crops growing on farmland absorb heat through transpiration and paddy fields absorb heat through water evaporation, resulting in lower climate temperatures.
Conservation of biodiversity	Rice paddies and upland fields are properly and sustainably managed to form and maintain a secondary natural environment with ecosystems rich in plants, insects and animals, etc. to secure biodiversity
Formation of a good landscape	Agricultural activities combined with farmland, old farmhouses, surrounding water sources and mountains create attractive natural landscapes.
Maintenance of cultural tradition	Japan features many annual events and festivals which trace their origins to prayers for rich harvests. Agriculture plays a role in passing on these traditions to future generations.

(2) Forestry

Conservation of biodiversity	Forests inhabited by a wide variety of plants and animals contribute to conserving the diversity of genes, species and ecosystems.
Conservation of the global environment	Forests can adjust the natural environment on a global scale through transpiration and absorption of CO2 which causes global warming.
Prevention of landslide disasters and conservation of soil	Brush, fallen leaves and branches suppress soil erosion, and the network of roots from forest trees prevents landslides.
Watershed capabilities	Forest soil mitigates floods and stabilizes river flow by storing rainwater and moderating the volume of water running into rivers.
Formation of comfortable environments	Forests help form comfortable environments by moderating climate through transpiration, reducing wind shear and noise, adsorbing dust through tree crowns and alleviating the heat island phenomenon.
Benefits for health and recreation	Trees release volatile substances such as phytoncides that are known to directly improve health, and forests provide areas for sports and leisure.
Culture	As a foundation for the succession of culture and traditions, forest scenery plays a vital role in the shaping of the traditional Japanese outlook on nature, and they also provide a place for forest environment education and practical learning.
Material production	The ability of forests to produce a wide variety of materials including wood, extracts and various types of fungi