One of the last tidal flats that survived the urbanization in Tokyo Bay and a good model of community participation Yatsu-higata Tidal Flat Geographical Coordinates: 35°40’N, 140°00’E / Altitude: 0m / Area: 40ha / Major Type of Wetland: Tidal flat / Designation: Special Protection Zone of National Wildlife Protection Area / Municipalities Involved: Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture / Ramsar Designation: June 1993 / Ramsar Criteria: 3 View of the Yatsu-higata Left to right: Cleaning up of Yatsu-higata / Children’s music concert / picture-story show General Overview: pressway. Locals appreciate and enjoy the [Wetland Education] The Yatsu-higata Yatsu-higata is located approximately site as a valuable natural environment Nature Observation Center provides vari- 2km inland of Tokyo Bay. It is a 40ha tidal remaining in an urban area. In 1994, the ous environmental education programs flat of sand and mud. The bay once had an Yatsu-higata Nature Observation Center in collaboration with elementary schools extensive tidal flat which was one of the opened as a core facility for nature ob- throughout Narashino City. The programs largest in Japan. However, most of the area servation and environmental education. include plankton watching, picture-story was reclaimed for factories, housing and Around the center, observation stations show, music concerts and an exhibition roads in the process of rapid industrializa- and paths were prepared for public use. of life size bird models. In addition, an tion. Yatsu-higata is an exceptional tidal The center is used for nature conservation exchange program with the Boondall Wet- flat that has survived this process by active and environmental education as well as lands in Queensland, Australia was com- conservation efforts of local community. for bird watching, recreation and relaxa- menced in 1998 allowing students from The tidal flat resembles a swimming pool, tion. A habitat conservation and manage- both countries to exchange their experi- enclosed by concrete walls on all sides. It ment project for wildlife started from 2010 ences. is connected to Tokyo Bay via two channels in order to improve the environment for Contact Information: on the western and eastern ends, through birds. Narashino City Office which the tidal water flows in. At high tide, Local Participation in Conservation of http://www.city.narashino.chiba.jp/ the tidal flat is filled with sea water up to a the Tidal Flat: depth of about one meter. Before it was designated as a Ramsar The site is a very important stopover site, local people actively volunteered Tokyo Minami- Yatsu Sta. area for migratory birds. Ten percent of to clean-up this wetland. With the belief funabashi Sta. the plovers and sandpipers migrating to that local participation and cooperation Residential Rwy Area Residential Japan have been observed in this area. is indispensable for wetland conserva- Area Tokyo In 1996, Yatsu-higata was included in the tion, Narashino City is actively enrolling Primary Flyway Site Network under the Partnership volunteers at the Yatsu-higata Nature School Yatsu Rd. for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Observation Center. Currently about 130 -higata A Tidal Flat Left in a Metropolis: volunteers support the conservation and Observation Senior Yatsu-higata is situated only 30 min- management of the tidal flat and the op- Center High School Highway utes away from downtown Tokyo, between eration of the center. There also is a clean- Rd. Residential Area housing complexes, schools and an ex- up project involving local people. 32 RAMSAR SITES in JAPAN.