An Island of World Heritage with the largest nesting ground for the Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the North Pacific region Yakushima Nagata-hama Sand Beach Geographical Coordinates: 30°24’N, 130°25’E / Altitude: below 10m / Area: 10ha / Major Type of Wetland: Sand beach/ Designation: Special protection Zone and Special Zone of National Park / Municipalities Involved: Yakushima Town, Prefecture / Ramsar Designation: November 2005 / Ramsar Criteria: 4

Yakushima Nagata-hama viewed from the south

Footprints of Loggerhead Sea Turtle General Overview: ing patrol and raising public awareness. Yakushima is an island with a circumfer- In this way, local people are leading the ence of 132km and an area of 50,000ha conservation work for the sea turtle in situated 60km south of the southern end of collaboration with government agencies Kyushu island. Yakushima Nagata-hama is a to promote the protection and wise use of collective term for three beaches, approxi- the nesting habitat. mately 1km long Maehama Beach and Inaka- An Island of World Natural Heritage: hama Beach, and approximately 0.2km With its subtropical climate, Yakushima long Yotsuse-hama Beach, situated on the experiences an annual precipitation ex- northwest side of the island. These beaches ceeding 4000mm and an average tempera- are made of coarse sand of weathered gran- ture around 20 degrees C in lowland area. ite and have the width of 30m. Yakushima This island has some unique features Nagata-hama is one of the few sand beaches such as the pristine natural environment in this island and is designated as a part of with the “Yaku-sugi” cedar which is es- National Park. Every year, Loggerhead Sea timated to be more than 1000 years old, Turtles come to nest on this tiny stretch. As and the diverse vertical distribution of this beach has the highest number of nest- flora that changes in accordance with the ings in the north Pacific region, it is a crucial altitude from the sea level to the moun- Signboard of caution habitat in the lifecycle of the turtle. tain top. This unique natural environment Nesting of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle: was designated as a World Natural Herit- Contact Information: During the nesting season from May to age Site in 1993. Today, the island with Yakushima Town Office August, Loggerhead Sea Turtles arrive on a population of 14,000 attracts 300,000 http://www.yakushima-town.jp/ the beach at approximately nine o’clock visitors annually. in the evening. Within a period of roughly [Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta] Yotsusenohana 40 minutes, a female turtle lays 100 to 140 It is a large species of sea turtle with a East Rd. Sea eggs in the sand. Young turtles hatch ap- body length spanning 70-100cm and the proximately 2 to 3 months later and start weight of big one reach as much as 180kg. Inakahama the life in the sea. It is reddish to yellow-brown in color with Yakushima Yakushima Nagata-hama Sea Turtle Conservation Efforts: a large and stout head. It feeds on shell- Aquarium Local people set up two conservation fish. It inhabits tropical to temperate wa- groups for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle in ters, and it has the northernmost nesting 1985 and in 1996. The former has become grounds among all sea turtle species. With Maehama an NPO called “Yakushima Umigame-kan”, exception of nesting, the Loggerhead Sea School Nagata and both of them are engaged in efforts Turtle leads a completely aquatic life, but Rd. Nagata Town River such as monitoring, beach cleanup, nest- its actual habitat range remains unknown.

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