Fundamental Study on the Fluctuations of Environmental Capacity on Yodo River Basin and Yamato River Basin

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the quantity, the velocity and the mechanisms of fluctuations of environmental capacity in the Yodo River basin and the Yamato River basin in the Kansai district. For this purpose we assume that environmental capacity is composed of environmental quantity and environmental load and compare the environmental capacity at 1975 and at 1991.
The results of analysis are summarized as follows:
1) The environmental capacity of CO₂ fixation has decreased in quantity by the increase of the amount of CO₂ exhaustion per person.
2) The environmental capacity of CO₂ fixation has increased in quantity by the increase of the standing volume of forest.
3) The environmental capacity of water resources has increased in quantity by the decrease of water demand per person.
4) The environmental capacity of water resources has decreased in quantity by the urbanization.
This survey will afford some new perspectives on our environmental design, planning and way of life.