National Parks & Important Areas of JAPAN Identification of Important Biodiversity Areas and Gap Analysis National Parks of JAPAN

Park plan National Park System Park plan is formulated for each national park to ensure of Japan that it is protected and utilized appropriately. National Parks of Japan are designated and protected under Class II Special Special Zones Protection Zones The Natural Parks Law of Japan, which aims at enhancing Class I the protection and utilization of representative landscapes National Parks & Special Zones Class II of Japan and contributing to the conservation of Special Zones biodiversity and the promotion of the health, recreation, Class III Important Biodiversity Areas Special Zones and education of the people. Ordinary Zones Besides National Parks, there are two other types of natural Outside of National Park boundary park in Japan, depending on the size and other factors: of JAPAN Quasi-National Parks and Prefectural Natural Parks. A National Park can contain not only natural areas with A Sample Park Plan Park Conservation Plan little human intervention but also developed areas such as a Special Protection Zones rural village and a recreational area as well as land used for Class I Special Zones Class II Special Zones agriculture, forestry, etc. Class III Special Zones Ordinary Zones The park area is divided into different zones, depending on Marine Park Zone P the level of protection and utilization, and the Park Plan is Park Utilization Plan Recreational ground drawn up to provide for facilities such as roads and lodges Lodging in light of the convenience and opportunities of visitors to Campground P Parking enjoy the natural environment. Visitor Center Motorway Walkway Sightseeing boat Roles for Biodiversity Conservation In response to the increasing social needs for the conservation of biodiversity, The Natural Parks Law of Japan was recently amended, clearly stating that the contribution to the conservation of biodiversity is one of the objectives of National Parks and Quasi-National Parks of National Park Japan. At the same time, the importance of natural parks in Quasi-National Park conserving the biodiversity of Japan has been given official recognition as constituting the “backbone” of biodiversity in Japan in the National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan (http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/071210-e.pdf).

Current Status At present, there are 29 National Parks, 56 Quasi-National Parks, and 312 Prefectural Natural Parks

02550 100 km in Japan; the area covered by these natural parks accounts for as much as 14 % of the total area of Japan. Ratio to Ratio to Land area Sea area Number total national total territorial (ha) land area (%) (ha) water area (%)

National Park 29 2,087,475 5.5 1,393,978 4.5 Basic Information of Japan Quasi- 56 1,362,030 3.6 451,979 1.5 2 National Park Land area 377,914 km Length of coastline 35,126 km Prefectural 312 1,968,465 5.2 2 Natural Park Territorial waters 310,000 km Exclusive Economic Zone 4,479,358 km2 Total 397 5,417,970 14.3 1,845,957 5.9 Population (Oct. 2010) 127,510,000 Important Biodiversity Areas

Color Type Category Content / Description code Identification of Important Northern coniferous forest Northern conifer-broadleaf mixed forest Summer green forest i. Typical natural vegetation (forest) Summer green forest (Japan Sea side type) National Parks of JAPAN Biodiversity Areas and Gap Analysis (1,000 ha or larger) Summer green forest (Pacific side type) Evergreen broadleaf forest Subtropical forest Subtropical forest (oceanic island type) Alpine Japan has long been conducting a series of National Surveys on the Natural Environment, collecting nation-wide (1) Important Subalpine baseline environmental information including the actual vegetation covers. Based on such data, areas important for the areas based on vegetation Mountain conservation of biodiversity (hereinafter “Important Biodiversity Areas”) have been identified in cooperation with 1. Terrestrial ecosystem Floodplain forest River experts, as is explained below, and then unprotected Important Biodiversity Areas, or gaps, have been identified by ii. Vegetation formed by unique Wetland with thick peat layer overlaying these areas with the areas protected by the existing National Parks and Quasi-National Parks of Japan. environmental factors Wetland with medium to thin peat layer Lake and marsh Volcanic desert Rock / gravel 1 Important areas based on vegetation Special rock type 1 2 Coast Large-scale typical natural forests(1000 ha or larger) ( ) and Grids*1 with 9 or more of threatened vegetations that are formed by unique environmental factors regardless i. Areas of concentrated distribution of threatened endemic plant species selected based on data provided of their size( ) were firstly selected as important areas. endemic plant species(9 species or more) by the National Museum of Nature and Science. (Ebihara & Kato, unpublished data)

Top 20 grids*1 in terms of the conservation effectiveness 2 Important habitats of plants measured by “C index” (short-term conservation index), which Areas where many threatened endemic species of Japan were recorded represents the degree of contribution to the national extinction ( ) were identified as important habitats of plants. Hotspot analysis risk reduction if a specific area is conserved in the following 10 (2) Important years. (Yahara, Matsuda, et al., unpublished data) was also carried out by experts and areas with high risks of extinction habitats of ii. Areas where the extinction risk of plant were identified( ). In addition, areas of the distribution of the plant plants species is high in hotspot analysis species dependent on special habitats were identified. Top 20 grids*1 in terms of the conservation effectiveness measured by “D index” (long-term conservation index), which represents the degree of national extinction risk increase if the 3 4 habitats of threatened species within a specific area is lost. 3 Important habitats of (Yahara, Matsuda, et al., unpublished data) Areas where threatened local populations of species that require Habitats of special types of plant that occur mainly at large habitat areas (e.g. bears)( ) and those dependent on man-altered iii. Areas of the distribution of the plant wetlands in central Japan. ecosystems( ) were identified as important habitats of animals. Areas species dependent on special habitats (Hiroki, 2002; Aichi prefecture, 2007) of importance for the conservation of specific animals (i.e. birds( ), Brown bear LP in Teshio-Mashike region reptiles, amphibians, and ( ) were also identified. Brown bear LP in Western Ishikari region Asian black bear LP in Shimokita peninsula i. Areas of the distribution of threatened local Asian black bear LP in Kii peninsula populations (LP) of animal species requiring a 4 Important areas of freshwater ecosystems Asian black bear LP in eastern Chugoku region wide habitat range*2 Rivers, lakes, and marshes that foster rich biodiversity or that have Asian black bear LP in western Chugoku region large-scale, excellent nature( ) were identified as important areas of Asian black bear LP in Shikoku mountainous area Japanese serow LP in Kyushu region freshwater ecosystems. (3) Important Habitats of the Tsushima leopard cat habitats of ii. Areas of the distribution of threatened animal Grids*2 including the habitats of the Oriental stork 5 6 animals species requiring a secondary natural environment 5 Important areas of the coastal region Grids*2 including the habitats of the Japanese crested ibis iii. Important Bird Area (IBA) IBA of BirdLife International Ecotones between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, i.e. areas of tidal iv. Areas of the concentrated distribution of Grids 1 with 4 species or more (maximum 8) of threatened flats ( ),salt marshes of a certain size as well as the whole areas of threatened amphibian and reptile * amphibian and reptile species mangrove ( ), were identified as important areas of the coastal region. species (4 species or more)*1 Important areas for the protection of the biodiversity of insects, v. Areas important as habitats for insects 6 Important areas of shallow waters which were selected by the Entomological Society of Japan Large-scale rivers among the 500 Important Wetlands in Japan Large-scale seaweed beds( ) and the whole areas of coral reefs( ) i. Rivers that have rich biodiversity or are selected by the Ministry of the Environment and Wetlands considerably large that provide habitats for diverse marine organisms were identified as Important areas International Japan. important areas of shallow water. of freshwater Large-scale lakes among the 500 Important Wetlands in Japan ecosystems ii. Lakes that have rich biodiversity or are selected by the Ministry of the Environment and Wetlands considerably large 7 8 2. Freshwater ecosystem International Japan. 7 Important habitats of marine life i. Mangroves All the mangroves have been selected as important areas. ii. Large tidal flats that provide habitats for The coastlines inhabited by seals and marine areas where the finless ( ) The distribution of tidal flats of 100 ha or larger 1 Important organisms porpoise or the dugong are distributed( ), the breeding grounds of areas of the Considerably large salt marsh of 500 Important Wetlands in the humpback whale, the breeding grounds of seabird colonies( ), coastal region iii. Salt marshes that have rich biodiversity or beaches where sea turtles lay eggs( ), and important sandbanks Japan selected by the Ministry of the Environment and are considerably large Wetlands International Japan. were identified as important habitats of marine life. (2) Important i. Large seaweed beds that provide habitats for The distribution of seaweed beds of 100 ha or larger areas of organisms 8 shallow waters ii. Coral reefs All the coral reefs have been selected as important areas. Identification of protection gaps Coastline inhabited by seals Protection gaps have been identified by overlaying the Important 3. Coastal ecosystem Area of the distribution finless black porpoises i. Important habitats of marine mammals Biodiversity Areas identified through steps (1) to (7) with the areas Area of the distribution of dugong ＊Refer to the table on the back cover for a full list of Important Biodiversity Areas that were considered in the GAP analysis. protected under the existing National Parks( ). Humpback whale breeding area ii. Breeding grounds of threatened seabirds Seabird breeding grounds (land area) (3) Important and neighboring sea area Sea area adjacent to the seabird breeding grounds habitats of Sea turtle breeding ground (beach) marine life iii. Breeding grounds of sea turtles and Future Action neighboring sea area Sea area adjacent to the sea turtle breeding grounds Front cover photos The sandbanks of Setonaikai Inland Sea, for which research 1 23 has been done, have been mapped. iv. Sandbanks that provide habitats for marine life Identified protection “gaps” will be provided with 8. (Sandbanks are the shallows formed by seabed sand 4 1. Okinawa rail Beech forest of Shirakami-sanchi sedimentation and are considered to be rich in marine life.) adequate protection either as National or Quasi-National 2. Nakaumi – large brackish lake 9. Humpback whale 5 8 *1: Grid size approximately 10 km square. *2: Grid size approximately 1 km square. Parks, as appropriate in consideration of the size and 7 3. Kuroiwa’s ground gecko 10. Ishikawa’s frog 6 9 4. Coral reefs of Sekisei lagoon 11. Abe’s salamander other factors, or through other conservation measures as 5. Spotted seal 11 12 12. Tsushima leopard cat part of Japan’s ongoing effort to build an effective 10 6. Kushiro-shitsugen wetland 13. Tidal flat of Shin-Maikohama 13 14 7. Mangroves of Iriomote Island 14. Dryas octpetala National Park Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan network of biodiversity conservation. 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8975 Japan TEL. +81 (0)3-3581-3351 (reception) http://www.env.go.jp/ Blakiston’s fish owl Brown bear 1 Abe’s salamander Japanese crested ibises in a paddy field in Sado Cypripedium marcanthum var. rebunense

Sado Pink salmons going upstream

Noto Honshu Wetland in Sarobetsu vegetation on Mt Hakusan

Hokkaido Alpine vegetation in Shiretoko peninsula

Bay

Picea-Abies forest surrounding Lake Shikotsu

Wetland of Oze National Park

Kushiro-shitsugen wetland, a Ramsar site

Beech forest in Shirakami-sanchi

Tidal flat in Mikawa Bay

Alpine vegetation on Mt Daisetsuzan Red-crowned cranes Spotted seal Oxytropis japonica var. sericea Eriocaulon nudicuspe in a spring-fed wetland

Natural forest of the Southern Japan Alps 4 and endemic species, Callianthemum hondoense

Honshu 5 02550 100 km Short-tailed albatross Bird breeding ground on Hidejima Island and Madeiran storm-petrel 3 breeding ground on Torishima Island National Parks & 2 Important Biodiversity Areas of JAPAN Loggerhead sea turtle laying eggs National and Quasi-National Park Freshwater ecosystem

National Park Important area of freshwater ecosystems

Quasi-National Park Coastal ecosystem Nakaumi - large brackish lake Oriental storks Terrestrial ecosystem Mangrove

Typical natural vegetation (forest) (1000 ha or larger) Tidal flat Tsushima leopard cats on Tsushima Island ©Yoichiro Fujiwara Vegetation formed by unique Seaweed bed Finless black porpoise inhabiting environmental factors (10 ha or larger) inshore waters of Japan Salt marsh Vegetation formed by unique environmental factors (less than 10 ha) Black-faced spoonbills in the tidal flat at Coral reef the estuary of the Tatara River Areas of the concentrated distribution of Japan’s Coastline inhabited by seals Oki threatened endemic plants (9 species or more)

Areas where the extinction risk of plant species is Areas of the distribution of finless black porpoise ( ) high in hotspot analysis (Top 20) Honshu - Kyushu and dugong (Okinawa)

Areas of the distribution of the plants Humpback whale breeding area dependent on special habitats Habitat of grassland insects on Subalpine veg Breeding ground of threatened seabirds and Mt Daisen and Mt Hiruzen - Areas of distribution of threatened local populations neighboring sea area Seaweed bed of Setonaikai Inland Sea Melitaea protomedia of animals requiring a wide habitat range North part of (Hokkaido: Brown bear, Honsyu and Shikoku: Breeding ground of sea turtles and Asian black bear, Kyusyu: Japanese serow) neighboring sea area Hyogo prefecture Wakasa Ba Areas of the distribution of threatened animal species Sandbank requiring “secondary” natural environments (Sado, Noto and Oki: Japanese crested ibis, Wakasa Bay and North part of Hyogo prefecture: Oriental stork, Tsushima: Tsushima leopard cat)

Important Bird Area

Important Bird Area (small size or unclear boundary)

Areas of the concentrated distribution of threatened amphibian and reptile species (4 species or more) Japanease serow - endemic species of Japan Areas important as habitats of insects

1 Kyushu

2 Shikoku 7 “Jomon sugi” (old Japanese cedar tree) of 3 Yakushima Island

4 7 Tidal flat at the estuary of 9 8 Fushino River 5 10 Ti 9 6 Humpback whale Tidal flat of Setonaikai Inland Sea Natural forest of the Omine mountain range Okinawa rail Yambaru long-armed scarab beetle

Coral reefs of Tatsukushi Yellow-margined box Mangroves of Coral reefs of turtle of Iriomote Island Iriomote Island Sekisei lagoon Endemic species of the Ogasawara Islands - Rhododendron boninense Ishikawa’s frog Subtropical forest of 8 Okinawa Amami Oshima Island 6 10 ©Shikoku Institute of Natural History Asian black bear in the Shikoku mountains