The role of green infrastructure (GI) in regenerating brownfield sites has not yet been widely recognised in Japan. In contrast, post-industrial countries in Europe and North America have introduced a number of good practices for GI-led brownfield regeneration. Using GI to revitalise post-industrial areas offers multiple benefits, ranging from ecosystem restoration and increased property values, to improvements in personal well-being, and can serve as an effective climate change adaptation solution. In Japan, nature has traditionally been used to protect the built environment from disaster; for example, preserving forests to prevent landslides, or sand or wind erosion on the coast. Although the application of GI is not a new idea in Japan, its role in revitalising brownfields and building communities has not been widely discussed. This paper explores the potential role of GI-led brownfield regeneration in Japan. Key barriers and drivers in revitalising post-industrial sites through the use of GI are identified using three case studies from the Osaka Bay Area, home to some of Japan's largest brownfield sites. The paper concludes with highlighting opportunities and challenges for disseminating the concept of GI-led regeneration in the Japanese context.
Otsuka, N; Abe, H; Isehara, Y; Miyagawa, T
The potential use of green infrastructure in the regeneration of brownfield sites: three case studies from Japan's Osaka Bay Area
Local Environment