Japan Turns Abandoned Rice Fields into Wetlands

Peaceful rice field landscape in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan. Credit: Huu Huynh, Pexel. 

Across rural Japan, many rice fields have been abandoned as farming populations age and rural communities shrink. Rather than allowing these landscapes to degrade, conservationists are restoring some of these former rice paddies into year-round wetlands that store water, replenish groundwater, and provide habitat for native wildlife. 

The restored wetlands are already helping bring back wildlife, such as frogs, dragonflies, fish, and endangered aquatic species while improving water retention in landscapes increasingly exposed to heavy rainfall and longer dry periods.

As climate change intensifies floods, droughts, and water stress, these projects demonstrate how restoring natural ecosystems can strengthen local resilience while protecting biodiversity. 

What is happening?

• Japan has around 257,000 hectares of abandoned farmland, much of it linked to an ageing farming population and labour shortages. Some abandoned rice paddies are now being restored into year-round wetlands that improve groundwater recharge and provide habitat for native wildlife. 
• Conservation groups are restoring abandoned rice fields into permanent wetlands that remain flooded throughout the year.  
• The wetlands allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground, helping recharge groundwater and improve local water availability.  
• Restored wetlands provide habitat for frogs, dragonflies, fish, and endangered aquatic species that have declined with the loss of traditional rice farming.  
• The projects recreate many of the ecological functions once provided by flooded rice paddies.  
• Wetlands slow water movement across the landscape, helping reduce runoff during periods of intense rainfall.  
• Local communities and conservation organisations are working together to restore these traditional agricultural landscapes. 

Why This Matters for Climate Action 

Climate change is increasing heavy rainfall, droughts, and water shortages worldwide. Wetlands help reduce these risks by storing water, slowing floods, and maintaining water availability during dry periods. 

Japan’s rice paddies have long functioned as human-made wetlands, providing ecosystem services such as flood regulation, groundwater recharge, water purification, and biodiversity support. Research estimates these services are worth around US$72.8 billion annually. Moreover, Japanese paddy landscapes also support more than 5,000 species, including amphibians, insects, birds, and aquatic organisms, but abandonment and land-use changes are threatening these ecological benefits. 

Japan’s restoration efforts highlight how nature-based solutions can strengthen water security, protect biodiversity, and build climate resilience. 

Potential Benefits of Wetlands 

Climate and Environmental Benefits 

• Improves groundwater recharge and long-term water availability.  
• Reduces surface runoff and helps lower flood risks during intense rainfall.  
• Strengthens resilience to drought by naturally storing water in the landscape.  
• Restores habitats for frogs, dragonflies, fish, and other freshwater wildlife.  

Community Benefits 

• Improves local water security during increasingly variable weather.  
• Supports healthier freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity.  
• Preserves traditional agricultural landscapes with cultural and ecological value (e.g., centuries-old rice farming traditions, habitat for migratory birds, amphibians, and freshwater biodiversity). 
• Encourages community participation in ecosystem restoration and conservation. 

Actions for Citizens and Policymakers 

What YOU Can Do: 

• Support wetland conservation and restoration initiatives in your region (check out Wetlands International).  
• Participate in local habitat restoration and citizen science programmes where available (e.g. Wetland Restoration Initiative in Tokyo).  
• Raise awareness about the role wetlands play in protecting water resources and wildlife.  

What Needs to Change Systemically: 

• Protect remaining wetlands and traditional agricultural landscapes that provide important ecological functions.  
• Increase investment in wetland restoration as part of national water management and climate adaptation strategies (check out the work of IUNC).
• Support farmers and local communities in managing landscapes that benefit both food production and ecosystem health.  
• Integrate wetland restoration into flood management, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity strategies.  
• Monitor restored wetlands over the long term to ensure they continue delivering benefits for water security, biodiversity, and local communities. 

Read more: Extreme weather events | Health risks | Climate Risks Daily 

Original source: Japan’s abandoned rice fields are being restored into year-round wetlands to replenish groundwater and bring back frogs, dragonflies and endangered aquatic wildlife – The Times of India