Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 14, 3rd edition). A 4th edition of the Handbook is in preparation and will be available in 2009. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: Mr. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. Tomoo Mizutani DD MM YY Wildlife Division Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Environment Office Okayama-daini-godochosha 11F Designation date Site Reference Number Shimoishii 1-4-1 Kita-ku, Okayama-shi Okayama-ken 700-0907 JAPAN TEL : 086-223-1586 FAX : 086-224-2081 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: June 22, 2012 3. Country: JAPAN 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Miyajima 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only): a) Designation of a new Ramsar site; ☑or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 2 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged: or If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note: If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines, for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ☑; ii) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) ☑; iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables . b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. Land areas are marked with the boundary delineation based on the Seto Island Sea National Park Class 1 Special Zone area facing from the north western coastal zone to the south western coastal zone. Coastal areas are marked with the boundary delineation based on the coastal areas of the Seto Island Sea National Park Class 1 Special Zone in front of the mentioned land areas. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. Centre of the southern area: 132°16’09″E, 34°14’34″N Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 3 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. The site lies in Hiroshima Prefecture in the Chugoku District of Honshu Island (main island) of Japan. The site is situated in the southern part of Hatsukaichi City (population: about 0.11million, surface area: 489 square km) which is about 20km east of Hiroshima City, prefectural capital of Hiroshima Prefecture 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) T.P.(Average tidal level of Tokyo Bay) Minimum 0m: maximum 2m 11. Area: (in hectares) 142ha 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. Miyajima is an island situated at the coast of Seto Inland Sea, in the north western part of Hiroshima Bay. The whole area is designated as the Seto Inland Sea National Park, having received distinction as a place of scenic beauty and a historic site. Moreover, a part of the island area is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and the Ramsar Site falls within the buffer zone of the World Heritage site. Especially, the southern coast where the said wetland is located, is a well conserved natural coast area which have mostly been lost in other islands of the Seto Inland Sea Region with the mountain forests at the back. The spring water from the mountains and the inflow of seawater at the time of spring tide are mixed to form a tidal marsh, providing the environment to enable the inhabitation of the vulnerable dragonfly Orthetrum poecilops miyajimaensis which has only been recorded at Mijayima and at one site in southern China. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 8 • 9 ☑ ☑ 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification for each Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criterion 2: The vulnerable dragonfly, Orthetrum poecilops miyajimaensis (IUCN Red list VU, MOE Red list CR+EN, designated animal by National Parks Law) is the endemic subspecies o living only in Miyajima. Even the same species live in only 2 sites in the world, Miyajima and southern China. Criterion 9: Miyajima is the only habitat of Orthetrum poecilops miyajimaensis and supporting the 100% population of Orthetrum poecilops miyajimaensis. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 4 15. Biogeography (required when Criteria 1 and/or 3 and /or certain applications of Criterion 2 are applied to the designation): Name the relevant biogeographic region that includes the Ramsar site, and identify the biogeographic regionalisation system that has been applied. a) biogeographic region: Palearctic region-Japanese Evergreen Forest b) biogeographic regionalisation scheme (include reference citation): Udvardy, M. D. F. (1975). A classification of the biogeographical provinces of the world. 16. Physical features of the site: Describe, as appropriate, the geology, geomorphology; origins - natural or artificial; hydrology; soil type; water quality; water depth, water permanence; fluctuations in water level; tidal variations; downstream area; general climate, etc. Geology: Whole island consists of biotite granite of the late Mesozoic Cretaceous. Geomorphology: Tidal marsh (35ha) forests at the back, and coast areas. Origins: Natural Hydrology: At the tidal marsh, freshwater from the spring water of the hinterland and seawater flowing in at high tide are mixed to form brackish water Soil type: Clay, fine sand, coarse sand make clear layers with the grain size pattern at the wetland mainly composed of silty sand. But at the mountain ridge, layers of decomposed granite have fallen down from the soil of the surrounding mountains, forming sedimentary layers of 30-70cm Water quality: Salinity within the wetland changing in accordance with the ebb and flow of the tide is about 0- 3% pH is 8-5. EC is 0-4 S/m Water depth: Water depth within the wetland changes between 0-1m in accordance with the tidal level. Fluctuations in water level: The tidal level changes up to about 3m at maximum according to the ebb and flow of the tide. General climate: It has a temperate climate throughout the year with the small amount of rainfall except rainy season. From the summer to autumn seasons, there are occasions of the influence of typhoons. Data from Hatsukaichi City HP shows that the fluctuation range of monthly average temperature is 5.0-29.3 degrees Celsius, with an average temperature of 16.1 degrees Celsius. The average rainfall is 1511mm. 17. Physical features of the catchment area: Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 5 Describe the surface area, general geology and geomorphological features, general soil types, and climate (including climate type).