Japan Sabo Association has been promoting international exchange on sabo technology since decades ago. As part of it, the association started sabo technical exchange with Taiwan in the 1960s. It became particularly active after 1989 when the Japan-Taiwan sabo collaborative study focusing on jointly selected field-based topics through mutual visits was initiated. The exchange has produced considerable results to date.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the sabo collaborative study, a commemorative lecture meeting was held at the Sabo Hall on December 16, 2009 by inviting academics and sabo engineers from the Chinese Soil and Water Conservation Society and the Taiwan Disaster Prevention Society.

In 2009, serious sediment-related disasters occurred in both countries - in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture in July, and in Taiwan's central and southern areas in August due to Typhoon Morakot. In view of abnormal weather due to global warming, it is expected that the number of large-scale disasters will continue to increase.

Against this backdrop, the lecture meeting addressing the common issue of the two countries under the theme of "Measures against Large-scale Sediment-related Disasters and Related Challenges" was held at the Sabo Hall in Tokyo with about 60 participants. Two presentations were made by Taiwanese speakers and three by Japanese speakers, followed by the Q&A session and general discussions.

Lecture topics