Abstract
In most developed countries, river restoration projects have rapidly increased since the 1990s. In this paper we reviewed river restoration projects around the world (with a main focus on European rivers), and discussed the social backgrounds of projects. Finally, we indicated future research needs for successful restoration. In Europe, recent flood damages and an advanced EU policy have fostered river restoration projects. In the US, diverse river restoration projects have been carried out and an excellent database of restoration projects was established. In Australia, the development of environmental flow guidelines was received top-priority. Based on international experiences of river restoration projects, we presented the following fundamental needs for Japanese restoration projects: (i) management of sediment and river channel dynamics, (ii) restoration of a dynamic flow regime, (iii) implementing scientific monitoring programs and river restoration database, (iv) implementing an ecological flood management.
