Shiga Prefecture Water Environment Potential Map
We received the “Shiga Prefecture Water Environment Technology Development Support Subsidy” from Shiga Prefecture and developed technologies and tools in 2024 that can be utilized for water environment conservation.
This tool visualizes the ecosystem potential and ecosystem services of wetlands around Lake Biwa, including marshes, water bodies, and paddy fields. By identifying areas where land development should be avoided and areas that should be conserved, it can be utilized for water environment conservation.
・It displays indicators on a map showing where, what kind of ecosystem services can be expected, and to what extent—that is, the ecosystem potential.
・By collecting water or soil samples around Lake Biwa and analyzing them in combination with environmental information from the sampling sites, we evaluate and illustrate biodiversity and the structure and functions of ecosystems.
・We integrated the evaluation results based on the above data into GIS data and developed it into a web map application that anyone can easily use.
Please take a look at the results.
Various potential maps
Habitat Potential Map for Aquatic Organisms
Areas prone to water accumulation, i.e., with high moisture levels, are displayed in darker blue.
It can be seen that areas with high moisture levels are concentrated in the southern part of Lake Biwa.
Soil Erosion Prevention Map
We created a map predicting soil erosion volume.
Areas with high erosion volume are shown in dark brown.
Looking at the map, the southeastern part of Lake Biwa is shown in a whitish color. This suggests a low risk of soil erosion, meaning landslides and mudslides are less likely to occur.
Aquatic Species by Location
Environmental DNA analysis was conducted to evaluate the biodiversity of wetlands, including marshes, water bodies, and paddy fields, within Shiga Prefecture.
By collecting water samples, extracting DNA, and analyzing it, we can identify the organisms inhabiting those areas.
Analysis focused on the Konan area revealed that the types of fish appearing differ depending on the specific area.
Habitat potential mapping project
Habitat Potential Map
Habitat potential quantifies the suitability of an environment for various organisms to inhabit, indicating how well the environmental conditions are suited for their survival.
It maps out which areas in our region can support which organisms, and what kind of environments they can inhabit.
Habitat Potential Maps reveal various aspects of local biodiversity and ecosystems: what organisms live near us, which areas support which species, and whether organisms move between areas.
Protect diverse living creatures
Mitigate climate change
Create places of spiritual refuge
Protect communities from disasters
Protect water resources
Create opportunities for learning
The Significance of Understanding Regional Biodiversity
Understanding a region's habitat potential goes beyond simply knowing how many organisms live there.
Rich natural environments that nurture diverse life provide us with various functions, known as ecosystem services, that benefit our own lives and society. The illustrations on the left show examples of representative services.
Understanding the habitat potential for ecosystem services in the areas where we live can provide useful insights for creating a richer environment and society.