the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has similarly encouraged

Since around the 2000s, and especially in Europe and North America, there has been a shift in coastal management towards the use of eco-engineering and nature-based solutions – ways of working with natural ecosystems to address environmental challenges, says Seino. “These approaches integrate natural systems which not only protect against storm surges but also preserve … Read more

The cost of concrete

Locals also express concern about their lack of involvement in the decision-making process of the seawall. The Kagoshima Prefecture conducted surveys, including environmental studies, and three rounds of expert meetings from 2016-18, but Takaaki Kagohashi, a lawyer and longtime member of Jelf involved in the court case, says local residents were not consulted, except for the then-village-chief. The … Read more

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the official advisor on nature under the World Heritage Convention

The project saw final approval by the Kagoshima Prefecture in January 2018, but in the meantime other local residents have come together to oppose the seawall, arguing it is in danger of disrupting the Katoku River, affecting the entire rare beach ecosystem. In September 2020, a petition with more than 30,000 signatures was submitted to the governor of Kagoshima, mayor of … Read more