Flood-Control Basins as Green Infrastructures: Flood-Risk Reduction, Biodiversity Conservation, and Sustainable Management in Japan

AbstractGreen infrastructure (GI) is a strategic planning infrastructure that uses the functions of ecosystems. Under an increased river flood risk, flood-risk management utilizing GI is gaining attention from managers and ecologists in Japan. Flood-control basins are facilities that temporarily store river water in adjacent reservoirs to mitigate flood peaks and gradually drain the water back to the main channels after a flood. GI is expected to provide multiple functions, such as flood-risk reduction and habitat provisions. However, there are limited studies on the ecological functions of flood-control basins. In this article, we first introduce the characteristics of flood-control basins constructed in Japan. Next, we show the ecological importance of flood-control basins in terms of wetland organism biodiversity conservation. Finally, to aid the integration of GI into conventional flood-control measures, we highlight ecological and social issues about introducing and managing flood-control basins.