Asian River Restoration Network (ARRN)

The Asian River Restoration Network was established in Nov. 2006 to support the exchange of information relating to environmental restoration of rivers and watersheds. JRRN has a role of ARRN secretariat currently.

Go to ARRN website

Contact us (Secretariat)


Lofty Chuoh Bldg., 7th Flr.

17-24, Shinkawa 1cho-me, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0033, JAPAN

Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration
Tel: +81-3-6228-3860
Fax: +81-3-3523-0640
E-mail:info@a-rr.net

NEWS and EVENTS

< News and Events Category: JRRN's International Exchange >

Participation in the World City Water Forum (August 18-21, 2009, Incheon, Korea)

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Opening

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Presentation by JRRN secretariat


During the period of August 18 (Tue.) to 21 (Fri.), 2009, the “World City Water Forum 2009 (WCWF 2009)” was held at the Songdo Convensia in Inchon City, Korea. It brought together about 5,000 specialists involved in city water issues, who exchanged information on up-to-date technologies and experiences.

The JRRN Secretariat sent Ms. Numata (Planning division, Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration) to the forum to give his presentation, entitled “Trends for Urban River Restoration in Asia and Efforts toward Establishing an International Network”, at a technical session of “Restoration of Urban Stream Amenity”. During the forum, there were other sessions related to river environment on the theme of aquatic ecological restoration, regional revitalization through riverboat transportation, etc., in addition to urban river restoration, which introduced diverse case examples in Korea as well as other countries.


→ Website of "Warld City Water Forum 2009"


Assisting Taiwanese technical training program (July 8, 2009, Tokyo, JAPAN)

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Lecture Participants


On July 8 (Wed.), 2009, a group of practical engineers from the Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Government of Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), came to Japan to participate in a training program which gives information on efforts for river environment improvement in Japan, which was conducted by the JRRN Secretariat and the Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration.

In Taiwan, projects for river environment restoration have recently been carried out throughout the country, including the recent release of a website covering information on river restoration by a public agency. Therefore, we think that the above training program was a good opportunity to learn about the latest Japanese measures, etc., in the field of river environment, including nature-oriented river management and nature restoration projects.

Assisting delegates from Korea River Association (June 10-12, 2009,Hokkaido, Japan)

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Moizari River, Hokkaido

From June 10 (Wed.) to 12 (Fri.), 2009, an technical mission of the Korea River Association (53 members) came to Japan in order to observe river improvement work, flood control projects, and the river environment in Hokkaido, mainly in Sapporo City. The Korea River Association also serves as the secretariat of KRRN, which is a contact organization of ARRN in Korea. The JRRN Secretariat offered cooperation to the association, including schedule coordination with each river management agency regarding visitation sites and preparation of explanatory materials, and also accompanied the group on observation tours to the Moizari River in Eniwa, the Ishikari River, the Toyohira River and the Chitose River.

The site visit to see advanced flood control projects, flood-control measures in urban rivers, and recreational water facility plans in Japan provided an opportunity to publicize the technology used and measures taken in Japan, and to exchange opinions on river restoration between Japan and Korea. We hope that it will add momentum to promote further exchanges between Japan and Korea in the field of river environment restoration.


Website of Korea River Association

Accepting JICA Training Program (Pakistan) (May 20, 2009, Tokyo, JAPAN)

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Opening Speach Lecture
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Participants At Sumida River


On Wednesday, May 20, 2009, the JRRN Secretariat was responsible for lectures (e.g. the improvement of river environments in Japan, case examples of restored river environments, etc.) and guiding an site visit (the Sumida River) for people from the Pakistan government and local municipalities, who visited Japan for the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Training Program.
This group of trainees visited Japan to learn Flood Risk Management Practices. As they themselves have many issues in river environments such as waste dumping at rivers, we provided topics concerning river environments as essential considerations for river management and social enlightenment.
There were questions and answers, and active opinion exchanges, both in indoor lectures in the morning and the technical site visit in the afternoon. This provided an opportunity for a meaningful interchange to both trainees and JRRN staff.

Information Exchange with the ECRR President (March 16, 2009, Istanbul, TURKY)

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On Monday, March 16, 2009, we exchanged information and opinions about future collaboration with ECRR and the activities of ARRN with Mr. Bart Fokkens, President of ECRR, which is a model organization of ARRN.
This conference was held at the site of the Fifth World Water Forum (Turkey), when the ECRR President and ARRN/JRRN Secretariat Director participated in the forum. The discussion was constructive. We decided to start with possible efforts in cooperation between Europe and Asia, including both parties’ participation in workshops and contribution to database construction.

Participation in the Fifth World Water Forum (March 16-22, 2009, Istanbul, TURKY)

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Venue Opening


From March 16 to March 22, the Fifth World Water Forum was held in Istanbul, Turkey under the theme of “Bridging Divides for Water.” More than 30,000 people from over 150 countries concerned about water gathered together. They discussed various solutions for water problems at more than 100 sessions.
Partly in view of the fact that ARRN was established based on the recommendation of a special session co-hosted by Japan, China, and Korea in the last Fourth World Water Forum (March 2006, Mexico), two members of the ARRN Secretariat took part in the forum to do PR for ARRN for other participants, give opinions, and promote the “Reference Guideline for River Restoration” published by ARRN.

Assistance to Hong Kong government staff with an inspection tour of the Sumida River, Tokyo(February 20, 2009, Tokyo, JAPAN)

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Discussion At Sumida River


On Friday, February 20, 2009, an inspection team of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, visited Japan to inspect the Sumida River and the Old-Nakagawa River as successful case examples of urban waterfront restoration in Japan. In addition, they paid a courtesy visit to the River Division, Bureau of Construction, Tokyo Metropolitan Government which manages the Sumida River, and exchanged opinions actively with the Japanese side.
The site visit to the Sumida River came about in the following way. Last July, JRRN received an inquiry about case good practices of urban river restoration in Japan from Hong Kong government staff. While introducing various case examples of river restoration, we selected the Sumida River as the most appropriate for the purpose of their inspection.

Assisting Taiwanese government staff with inspection tours (November 25-26, 2008, Tokyo, JAPAN)

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JRRN secretariat was asked by JRRN members to assist the Taiwanese government staff with the inspections of case studies of improved water environments (water treatment and water reuse) in Japan. The JRRN Secretariat supported preparatory coordination with inspection sites and two-day site visits.
They visited the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, Kogasaki Purification Facilities (for the rock bed-contact purification of the Sakagawa River), and Tokyo Metropolitan Ochiai Water Reclamation Center. The inspections were meaningful thanks to briefing by facility staff and an exchange of opinions.

Exchange with Citizen’s Group to Create Healthy Dorimcheon, Korea (July 15, 2008, Tokyo, JAPAN)

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14 members including the representative of Citizen’s Group to Create Healthy Dorimcheon visited Japan and exchanged opinions with ARRN Secretariat. Based around Dorimcheon in Seoul, Korea, the Citizen’s Group to Create Healthy Dorimcheon was established in 1999 and has expanded its members as much as 300. The objectives of its activities are to protect the environment of Dorimcheon basin and Gwanak-gu area with support of local citizens, and to pursue sustainable society and co-existence of nature and mankind for the betterment of people’s lives. At the opinion-exchange meeting, ARRN Secretariat introduced historical development of Japanese river environment administration, current projects for river restoration, and proactive efforts made by citizens including children towards restoring rivers. The Dorimcheon NPO in turn introduced activities carried out by children and then both parties vigorously exchanged opinions.

Exchange with Dr. Ulrica Åberg, the researcher from the School of Environment, University of Leeds, UK (June 26, 2008, Tokyo, JAPAN)

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On June 26, 2008, ARRN Secretariat had a meeting with Dr. Ulrica Åberg, the researcher of the School of Environment, University of Leeds, UK. As a part of her research to compare river restoration projects between Japan and Europe, Dr. Ulrica Åberg conducted field studies to collect examples and information during her short stay in Japan. ARRN Secretariat provided information regarding historical development of Japanese river environment administration, representative measures and examples, procedures for river restoration projects, and evaluation of the projects implemented in the past. Dr. Ulrica in turn explained current situations regarding river restoration in UK.

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