Irrigation ponds and seepage marshes are important freshwater ecosystems that serve as wildlife habitats. This review discusses the relationships between wetlands using the“ List of irrigation ponds” published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, and original field survey data. It was found that the distribution patterns of both wetlands were similar in Japan, and in the Tokai area, approximately half of all seepage marshes are located in the vicinity of irrigation ponds. The location of seepage marshes near irrigation ponds was classified as follows: upstream, downstream, on the embankment, and around the shore. Additionally, seepage marshes were occasionally located on the bottom of drained irrigation ponds. The flow of water between wetlands strongly influences wildlife migration, suggesting that irrigation ponds and seepage marshes are closely associated both hydrologically and ecologically. Therefore, integrated management of these wetlands is essential.

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A detailed, high-resolution local wetland inventory, including small wetlands, can complement the national and global schematic inventories. Additionally, such inventories can act as an important data source for biodiversity conservation. When creating local wetland inventories, the knowledge of citizens and non-profit organizations (NPOs) that are familiar with the natural environment of the given area is indispensable. Moreover, researchers can support data acquisition and organization. The present article introduces the activities of the“ Study Group of Seepage Marsh” conducted from 2013 to 2021 as an example of the creation of a local wetland inventory of Tokai area in Japan through collaboration among citizens, NPOs, and researchers. The process and viewpoint are presented according to the format of Ramsar Convention Resolution VIII.6“ A Ramsar Framework for Wetland Inventory.”

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[in Japanese]

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