Abstract
Evaluation of values and functions of the area, which will be impacted by development, is a key to environmentally friendly practices in planning and design. This paper reviews the several assessment methods developed and used in the U. S., where more systematic environment protection scheme, including mitigation, is implemented. Each method differs in terms of area of interest, functions to be evaluated and evaluation process, but they have potential of evaluating Japanese wetlands especially if they are improved considering the characteristics observed in the Japanese coastal area.
