Connecting Japanese Researchers with Annapolis Area Practitioners

The Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County hosted a brief international meeting at the UMCES and IAN offices on May 28th. The meeting brought together a small delegation from Japan with county and city officials and UMCES to discuss how to encourage nature-based solutions in coastal urban planning scenarios, using current examples in Tokyo that favor large development projects over small community parks. Following the morning session at 115 West Street, participants visited three sites to compare stream restoration activities in Millersville, Edgewater, and the Annapolis City Dock protection project. The Japanese delegation included researchers from several Tokyo-based universities, and a Tokyo area farmer. The Maryland delegation included Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, Annapolis Mayor Jared Littmann, representatives from the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration, the Resilience Authority, and Cedar Collective. Dave Nemazie and Heath Kelsey attended from UMCES.