An image decoding method for decoding a coded bitstream, the image decoding method comprising: obtaining buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) from a sequence parameter set included in the coded bitstream, each of the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) includes buffer elements (BEO - BE2), wherein each of the buffer elements (BEO -BE2) i) is associated with a buffer element index and ii) specifies a reference picture to be held in a buffer for encoding pictures; constructing a default reference picture list including all the reference pictures that are indicated in the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) according to a predetermined constructing scheme; obtaining, from a slice header of a current slice included in the coded bitstream, buffer description selecting information for specifying one of the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn); selecting the buffer description (BD0 - BDn) specified in the buffer description selecting information; obtaining reference list reordering information from the slice header, wherein, in the reordering information, a target reference picture to be reordered is specified by a buffer element index in the selected buffer description; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected buffer description to define a first reference picture list, based on the reference list reordering information; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected buffer description to define a second reference picture list, based on the reference list reordering information; and decoding the current slice using the selected buffer description (BD0 - BDn), the first reference picture list and the second reference picture list. obtaining buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) from a sequence parameter set included in the coded bitstream, each of the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) includes buffer elements (BEO - BE2), wherein each of the buffer elements (BEO -BE2) i) is associated with a buffer element index and ii) specifies a reference picture to be held in a buffer for encoding pictures; constructing a default reference picture list including all the reference pictures that are indicated in the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) according to a predetermined constructing scheme; obtaining, from a slice header of a current slice included in the coded bitstream, buffer description selecting information for specifying one of the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn); selecting the buffer description (BD0 - BDn) specified in the buffer description selecting information; obtaining reference list reordering information from the slice header, wherein, in the reordering information, a target reference picture to be reordered is specified by a buffer element index in the selected buffer description; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected buffer description to define a first reference picture list, based on the reference list reordering information; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected buffer description to define a second reference picture list, based on the reference list reordering information; and decoding the current slice using the selected buffer description (BD0 - BDn), the first reference picture list and the second reference picture list.