BSC (Biological Soil Crust）Method
Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.
Technology / Service Summary
One of the vegetation recovery methods in Japan to prevent slope erosion and facilitate the vegetation intrusion by seeds flying from the surrounding areas
Purpose
BSC (Biological Soil Crust) is a sheet-like colony of soil microbes formulated by soil particles and fractures on the soil surface bound by the filamentous bacterium, soil algae, lichens, and moss. For the sites by ordinal natural vegetation implementation methods, the implemented areas are prone to be eroded and damaged by flowing water. Comparing with it, as the soil algae used in the BSC method well develop and grow especially along the water-flowing parts (i.e. rills, gullies), such algae in the BSC method can prevent from the expansion of erosion.
Feature
By intruding the existing vegetative species, adequate and suitable vegetation will be recovered, which are suitable for the target areas. As the soil algae used in this method inhabit all over the world: which is called a cosmopolitan species, the environmental impact to the indigenous species. Due to clonal propagation, there is no gene disruption. Implementation costs of the BSC method are cheaper in Japan compared to ordinal natural vegetation intrusion acceleration methods; e.g. vegetation mats/ sheets without seeds, and easier implementation methods, without additional works, such as slope leveling works, earth removal works/earth disposal works.
Effect
Erosion will be occurred at the initial stage, even vegetation recovery will commence from the bare land.
By formulating of BSC, erosion prevention effects will be increase, resulting in promotion of vegetation intrusion.
Controlled Substance
Applicable Regions / Countries
- Japan
- Southeast Asia
- Central/South Asia
- China/ East Asia
- Middle East
- Africa
- Oceania
- North America
- Europe
- Central/South America
- ASEAN countries
Indonesia,Cambodia,Singapore,Thailand,Philippines,Brunei Darussalam,Viet Nam,Malaysia,Myanmar,Lao PDR
Accomplishments
Slope failure along the forest road inside the Yambaru National Part, Okinawa Prefecture (in collaboration with Okinawa Prefectural Government Office)
Reference URL
Related SDGs Goals
- 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
