“During the plum fruit season, it used to be lively with the calls of migratory birds (such as the great reed warbler and the cuckoo).
There used to be many such reed beds along the water’s edge. They also played a role in purifying the water.
Due to riverbank protection projects, many reed beds have disappeared, and the great reed warbler cannot build its nest. Naturally, this also means that the cuckoo, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, disappears.
The streams in the rice fields have also decreased, and during this season, we can no longer see the parent and child of the water rail. The owls have also stopped coming because there is no prey.
What has increased are only birds like crows, starlings, and pheasants, birds similar to humans in their voraciousness.
It’s about time for Japan to reconsider the design of rivers and streams from an ecological perspective!
River Conservation in the UK
In the UK, many rivers are conserved in a natural state. This is due to efforts in environmental conservation carried out over a long history, as well as the establishment of legal frameworks.
River conservation efforts in the UK include:
Water quality management: Efforts are made to improve and maintain water quality. This involves monitoring pollution sources, managing wastewater discharge, and setting water quality standards.
River restoration: Activities such as the removal of artificial river structures and embankments, restoration of natural river flow, and regeneration of wetlands and floodplains are undertaken. This helps in restoring the natural ecosystem of rivers and enhancing their function as habitats for wildlife.
Designation of protected areas: Particularly important rivers and wetlands are designated as nature reserves or special protection areas. This strengthens the protection and management of natural environments.
Fish conservation: Measures such as the installation of fish passes and fishing restrictions are implemented to promote the habitat and breeding of fish in rivers.
These efforts allow the rivers in the UK to be utilized as important resources that provide benefits to people while maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and the richness of landscapes.
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