Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from Japan
Although water is a vital finite resource for sustaining life, it is under constant pressure from anthropogenic activities. Among the different types of surface water, lakes are particularly difficult to restore once water quality deteriorates due to their hydrological cycles and complex dynamics. T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | World Development Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772655X24000776 |
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| author | Yukako Inamura Pankaj Kumar Naoko Hirayama |
| author_facet | Yukako Inamura Pankaj Kumar Naoko Hirayama |
| author_sort | Yukako Inamura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although water is a vital finite resource for sustaining life, it is under constant pressure from anthropogenic activities. Among the different types of surface water, lakes are particularly difficult to restore once water quality deteriorates due to their hydrological cycles and complex dynamics. This study compares policy implementation and its relationship to water quality improvement through spatio-temporal variation for two lakes in Japan: Lake Biwa and Lake Teganuma. We divided the analysis time frame into three periods to assess how the timing of policy implementation has affected the water quality and ecosystem services. Lake Biwa is an iconic and vital water resource in the region, and its conservation has been led by citizens and strong leadership from the governor since the 1960s. On the other hand, efforts to conserve the environment of Lake Teganuma began in the 1970s, and legislation played an important role in initiating and implementing the governance framework. The comparison of these two cases shows that while the efforts of subnational government and citizen are as powerful as legislation in protecting the lake environment, special legislation can guide subnational governments in establishing the necessary governance framework that fits local conditions and goals. Achieving regional sustainability in a human-environment system requires policy planning that goes beyond silo thinking, and this study clearly shows that cooperation between multilevel governments and relevant stakeholders, including citizens, is essential. The findings provide policy-relevant practical lessons in the quest for sustainable lake management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-067febe2fc994487b160476099ae1325 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-655X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World Development Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-067febe2fc994487b160476099ae13252025-01-09T06:15:03ZengElsevierWorld Development Sustainability2772-655X2025-06-016100199Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from JapanYukako Inamura0Pankaj Kumar1Naoko Hirayama2Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama, Japan 240-0115; Corresponding author at: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2108-11 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Japan 240-0115Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama, Japan 240-0115The University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan 522-8533Although water is a vital finite resource for sustaining life, it is under constant pressure from anthropogenic activities. Among the different types of surface water, lakes are particularly difficult to restore once water quality deteriorates due to their hydrological cycles and complex dynamics. This study compares policy implementation and its relationship to water quality improvement through spatio-temporal variation for two lakes in Japan: Lake Biwa and Lake Teganuma. We divided the analysis time frame into three periods to assess how the timing of policy implementation has affected the water quality and ecosystem services. Lake Biwa is an iconic and vital water resource in the region, and its conservation has been led by citizens and strong leadership from the governor since the 1960s. On the other hand, efforts to conserve the environment of Lake Teganuma began in the 1970s, and legislation played an important role in initiating and implementing the governance framework. The comparison of these two cases shows that while the efforts of subnational government and citizen are as powerful as legislation in protecting the lake environment, special legislation can guide subnational governments in establishing the necessary governance framework that fits local conditions and goals. Achieving regional sustainability in a human-environment system requires policy planning that goes beyond silo thinking, and this study clearly shows that cooperation between multilevel governments and relevant stakeholders, including citizens, is essential. The findings provide policy-relevant practical lessons in the quest for sustainable lake management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772655X24000776Ecosystem servicesGovernanceLakeSustainable lake managementWater quality |
| spellingShingle | Yukako Inamura Pankaj Kumar Naoko Hirayama Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from Japan World Development Sustainability Ecosystem services Governance Lake Sustainable lake management Water quality |
| title | Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from Japan |
| title_full | Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from Japan |
| title_fullStr | Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from Japan |
| title_short | Unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management: Case studies from Japan |
| title_sort | unpacking the critical elements for solving the complex issue of sustainable lake management case studies from japan |
| topic | Ecosystem services Governance Lake Sustainable lake management Water quality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772655X24000776 |
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