2021/11/20
The SUN Project conducts research activities aimed at restoring nature within urban areas and enhancing regional resilience and adaptability. As part of this research, since spring of this year, a three-year biodiversity survey has been carried out to examine the roles that water channels and Japanese gardens within Kanazawa City play in supporting biodiversity. With the first half of this year’s survey completed across various gardens, including spring, summer, and early autumn investigations, OUIK held an interim report meeting on October 20th. Approximately 20 participants—including Kanazawa City officials, garden owners, and experts—were invited to discuss preliminary findings.
In Kanazawa City, where rich natural environments and historic cultural assets coexist, gardens serve as vital green infrastructure symbolizing the harmony between the city’s social and natural systems. However, due to multiple factors such as population decline, some gardens face challenges in maintenance and management. Consequently, there is a risk that the natural benefits they provide—such as supporting biodiversity, fostering human-nature connections, and contributing to climate change mitigation—may diminish. To explore sustainable ways to manage these gardens in the future, we are first assessing which species currently inhabit them.
Through our surveys, we have identified various rare species, invasive species, and other organisms living within the gardens. Some of these species are thought to have entered the gardens via water channels or surrounding forests. During the meeting, participants exchanged ideas on how to coordinate maintenance and management efforts involving gardens and water systems, as well as strategies to address the threats posed by invasive species while protecting rare species. This year, surveys will continue into November and the winter season. Once all surveys for the year are completed, we plan to compile and analyze the results to better understand the current state of biodiversity within the gardens.
