Natural Urban Heritage and Preservation Policies: the Case of Kyoto’s Waterways

The value of natural heritage within urban areas is nowadays gaining recognition, but there are still no clear reference frameworks to confront the complexities of their management. In this discussion, the challenges of the association of historical preservation and urban nature are explored through the analysis of the management of Kyoto’s waterways. The conflicts caused by the rapid modernization of Japan at the end of 19th century find in Kyoto a remarkable expression in the tensions between renovation and conservation, providing a fertile frame for discussion. Relevant achievements and shortcomings of Kyoto´s experience are here analyzed, considering how the preservation of historic landscapes affected the protection of urban rivers, the relationship between sustainability and heritage, and the new environmentally aware approaches to river improvement.