Wildlife Protection Areas in Japan

Notification of a Wildlife Protection Area and Special Protection Area in Yatsu-higata, a tidal flat and Ramsar Site in Tokyo Bay

Wildlife Protection Areas (鳥獣保護区, chōjū hogoku) in Japan are established by the Ministry of the Environment and, for areas of more local importance, by the Prefectural Governments in order "to protect and promote the reproduction of birds and mammals" in accordance with the 2002 Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law (鳥獣の保護及び狩猟の適正化に関する法律) (superseding the amended 1918 Law).^[1][2][3] The areas established have a maximum duration of twenty years (subject to renewal) and hunting is prohibited within them.^[1] Special Protection Areas (特別保護地区) are designated within the Wildlife Protection Areas in order to protect habitats and ecosystems.^[1][4]

Classification of wildlife[]

The wildlife of Japan is classified either as game species or protected species.^[5] The former includes thirty species of bird and seventeen of mammal that are considered (1) able to withstand hunting (2) harmful to agriculture and forestry (3) useful for meat or other derivatives.^[5] These species include the brown bear, black bear, Japanese deer, Japanese hare, Japanese quail, and Japanese pheasant.^[4] Over six hundred species are protected.^[4] Insectivorous mammals and rats are excluded from protection since they are considered harmful to agriculture; some marine mammals fall under the alternative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.^[4] While the number of animals hunted is falling with the decline in the number of hunters, the number of birds and mammals "controlled" is rising in relation to damage to crops.^[5]

Established Wildlife Protection Areas[]

As of 1 November 2019, eighty-six Wildlife Protection Areas have been established at a national level, covering an area of 5,930 square kilometres (2,290 sq mi), including 1,639 square kilometres (633 sq mi) of Special Protection Areas.^[6] As of the same date, 3,639 Wildlife Protection Areas have been established at a prefectural level, covering an area of 29,260 square kilometres (11,300 sq mi), including 1,425 square kilometres (550 sq mi) of prefectural Special Protectional Areas.^[7] The eighty-six nationally designated areas, divided into the four classes of large habitats (大規模生息地), wetland areas (集団渡来地), breeding areas (集団繁殖地), and habitats of rare birds and mammals (希少鳥獣生息地), are as follows:^[6]

Wildlife Protection Area	Designated Name	Image	Prefecture	Coordinates	Area (km2)	Established	Class
Daisetsuzan	大雪山鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°39′08″N 142°54′09″E / 43.652224°N 142.902603°E / 43.652224; 142.902603 (Daisetsuzan)	355.34	1992	1
Towada	十和田鳥獣保護区		Aomori, Akita	40°27′52″N 140°52′40″E / 40.464450°N 140.877686°E / 40.464450; 140.877686 (Towada)	376.74	1953	1
Shirakami-Sanchi	白神山地鳥獣保護区		Aomori, Akita	40°28′09″N 140°07′50″E / 40.469151°N 140.130444°E / 40.469151; 140.130444 (Shirakami-Sanchi)	171.57	2004	1
Asama	浅間鳥獣保護区		Gunma, Nagano	36°24′19″N 138°31′20″E / 36.405396°N 138.522320°E / 36.405396; 138.522320 (Asama)	309.40	1951	1
Hakusan	白山鳥獣保護区		Ishikawa, Gifu	36°09′19″N 136°45′41″E / 36.155237°N 136.761289°E / 36.155237; 136.761289 (Hakusan)	380.61	1969	1
Ōdai Mountains	大台山系鳥獣保護区		Mie, Nara	34°10′59″N 136°05′01″E / 34.183051°N 136.083612°E / 34.183051; 136.083612 (Ōdai Mountains)	185.72	1972	1
Tsurugi Mountains	剣山山系鳥獣保護区		Tokushima, Kōchi	33°51′14″N 134°05′41″E / 33.853916°N 134.094787°E / 33.853916; 134.094787 (Tsurugi Mountains)	118.17	1988	1
Daisen	大山鳥獣保護区		Tottori	35°22′34″N 133°32′40″E / 35.376174°N 133.544312°E / 35.376174; 133.544312 (Daisen)	51.56	1958	1
Ishizuchi Mountains	石鎚山系鳥獣保護区		Ehime, Kōchi	33°46′18″N 133°06′43″E / 33.771728°N 133.111982°E / 33.771728; 133.111982 (Ishizuchi Mountains)	108.58	1977	1
Kirishima	霧島鳥獣保護区		Miyazaki, Kagoshima	31°55′00″N 130°52′48″E / 31.916762°N 130.880127°E / 31.916762; 130.880127 (Kirishima)	114.33	1978	1
Hamatonbetsu Lake Kutcharo	浜頓別クッチャロ湖鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	45°08′01″N 142°19′43″E / 45.133739°N 142.328739°E / 45.133739; 142.328739 (Hamatonbetsu Lake Kutcharo)	28.03	1983	2
Sarobetsu	サロベツ鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	45°06′20″N 141°41′07″E / 45.105516°N 141.685181°E / 45.105516; 141.685181 (Sarobetsu)	37.39	1992	2
Lake Tōfutsu	濤沸湖鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°55′04″N 144°26′15″E / 43.917804°N 144.437599°E / 43.917804; 144.437599 (Lake Tōfutsu)	20.23	1992	2
Notsuke Peninsula - Notsuke Bay	野付半島・野付湾鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°37′29″N 145°12′41″E / 43.624768°N 145.211277°E / 43.624768; 145.211277 (Notsuke Peninsula - Notsuke Bay)	61.46	2005	2
Lake Furen	風蓮湖鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°20′21″N 145°16′00″E / 43.339162°N 145.266724°E / 43.339162; 145.266724 (Lake Furen)	81.39	1993	2
Akkeshi--Kiritappu	厚岸・別寒辺牛・霧多布鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°05′01″N 145°04′48″E / 43.083684°N 145.079956°E / 43.083684; 145.079956 (Akkeshi-Bekanbeushi-Kiritappu)	130.64	1993	2
Miyajima-numa	宮島沼鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°19′57″N 141°42′49″E / 43.332389°N 141.713719°E / 43.332389; 141.713719 (Miyajima-numa)	0.41	1992	2
Lake Utonai	ウトナイ湖鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	42°41′57″N 141°42′43″E / 42.699091°N 141.711831°E / 42.699091; 141.711831 (Lake Utonai)	5.10	1982	2
Kominato	小湊鳥獣保護区		Aomori	40°56′14″N 140°58′23″E / 40.937118°N 140.973129°E / 40.937118; 140.973129 (Kominato)	45.18	1971	2
Izu-numa	伊豆沼鳥獣保護区		Miyagi	38°42′55″N 141°06′14″E / 38.715351°N 141.103935°E / 38.715351; 141.103935 (Izu-numa)	14.55	1982	2
	仙台海浜鳥獣保護区		Miyagi	38°12′28″N 140°58′48″E / 38.207702°N 140.979996°E / 38.207702; 140.979996 (Sendai Seaside)	75.96	1987	2
and the surrounding rice paddies	蕪栗沼・周辺水田鳥獣保護区		Miyagi	38°38′13″N 141°06′18″E / 38.636919°N 141.105137°E / 38.636919; 141.105137 (Kabukuri-numa)	30.61	2005	2
	化女沼鳥獣保護区		Miyagi	38°37′50″N 140°57′46″E / 38.630550°N 140.962701°E / 38.630550; 140.962701 (Kejo-numa)	0.78	2008	2
Mogami River Mouth	最上川河口鳥獣保護区		Yamagata	38°55′23″N 139°48′40″E / 38.923159°N 139.811068°E / 38.923159; 139.811068 (Mogami River Mouth)	15.37	2005	2
	大山上池・下池鳥獣保護区		Yamagata	38°45′00″N 139°45′20″E / 38.750134°N 139.755664°E / 38.750134; 139.755664 (Ōyama Kamiike-Shimoike)	0.39	2008	2
	福島潟鳥獣保護区		Niigata	37°54′39″N 139°15′06″E / 37.910922°N 139.251795°E / 37.910922; 139.251795 (Fukushimagata)	2.31	1974	2
Lake Hyōko	瓢湖鳥獣保護区		Niigata	37°50′19″N 139°14′15″E / 37.838699°N 139.237461°E / 37.838699; 139.237461 (Lake Hyōko)	2.81	2005	2
	佐潟鳥獣保護区		Niigata	37°48′58″N 138°52′27″E / 37.816056°N 138.874054°E / 37.816056; 138.874054 (Sakata)	2.51	1981	2
	涸沼鳥獣保護区		Ibaraki	36°16′30″N 140°30′18″E / 36.274935°N 140.505137°E / 36.274935; 140.505137 (Hinuma)	20.72	2014	2
	渡良瀬遊水地鳥獣保護区		Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama	36°14′20″N 139°42′00″E / 36.238874°N 139.699917°E / 36.238874; 139.699917 (Watarase Reservoir)	28.61	2012	2
Kasaioki-	葛西沖三枚洲鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	35°38′01″N 139°51′48″E / 35.633728°N 139.863213°E / 35.633728; 139.863213 (Kasaioki-Sanmaisu)	3.80	2018	2
Yatsu	谷津鳥獣保護区		Chiba	35°40′39″N 140°00′28″E / 35.677413°N 140.007813°E / 35.677413; 140.007813 (Yatsu)	0.41	1988	2
	片野鴨池鳥獣保護区		Ishikawa	36°19′18″N 136°17′39″E / 36.321669°N 136.294069°E / 36.321669; 136.294069 (Katano Kamoike)	0.10	1993	2
Fujimae-higata	藤前干潟鳥獣保護区		Aichi	35°04′54″N 136°50′15″E / 35.081638°N 136.837635°E / 35.081638; 136.837635 (Fujimae-higata)	7.70	2002	2
	浜甲子園鳥獣保護区		Hyōgo	34°42′54″N 135°21′03″E / 34.714895°N 135.350704°E / 34.714895; 135.350704 (Hamakōshien)	0.30	1978	2
Nakaumi	中海鳥獣保護区		Tottori, Shimane	35°28′01″N 133°11′39″E / 35.466822°N 133.194122°E / 35.466822; 133.194122 (Nakaumi)	86.82	1974	2
Lake Shinji	宍道湖鳥獣保護区		Shimane	35°27′48″N 133°02′59″E / 35.463466°N 133.049669°E / 35.463466; 133.049669 (Lake Shinji)	78.99	2005	2
-	和白干潟・多々良川河口鳥獣保護区		Fukuoka	33°41′12″N 130°25′46″E / 33.686639°N 130.429516°E / 33.686639; 130.429516 (Wajiro-higata - Tatara River Mouth)	2.91	2003	2
	東よか干潟鳥獣保護区		Saga	33°10′25″N 130°16′13″E / 33.173684°N 130.270223°E / 33.173684; 130.270223 (Higashiyoka-higata)	2.39	2015	2
Hizen	肥前鹿島干潟鳥獣保護区		Saga	33°06′32″N 130°07′41″E / 33.108999°N 130.128189°E / 33.108999; 130.128189 (Hizen Kashima-higata)	0.67	2015	2
	荒尾干潟鳥獣保護区		Kumamoto	32°59′11″N 130°25′45″E / 32.986456°N 130.429215°E / 32.986456; 130.429215 (Arao-higata)	18.23	2012	2
Izumi-Takaono	出水・高尾野鳥獣保護区		Kagoshima	32°06′12″N 130°16′27″E / 32.103226°N 130.274162°E / 32.103226; 130.274162 (Izumi-Takaono)	8.42	1987	2
	屋我地鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	26°38′54″N 128°01′59″E / 26.648255°N 128.033187°E / 26.648255; 128.033187 (Yagaji)	32.17	1976	2
Lake Man	漫湖鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	43°55′04″N 144°26′15″E / 43.917804°N 144.437599°E / 43.917804; 144.437599 (Lake Man)	1.74	1977	2
	与那覇湾鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	24°45′34″N 125°15′47″E / 24.759517°N 125.263174°E / 24.759517; 125.263174 (Yonaha Bay)	13.66	2011	2
Ikema	池間鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	24°55′56″N 125°14′31″E / 24.932171°N 125.241909°E / 24.932171; 125.241909 (Ikema)	2.82	2011	2
Teuri Island	天売島鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	44°25′18″N 141°18′32″E / 44.421705°N 141.308813°E / 44.421705; 141.308813 (Teuri Island)	5.51	1982	3
-	ユルリ・モユルリ鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°13′37″N 145°36′27″E / 43.226991°N 145.607600°E / 43.226991; 145.607600 (Yururi-Moyururi)	1.99	1982	3
Daikoku Island	大黒島鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	42°57′17″N 144°52′24″E / 42.954664°N 144.873276°E / 42.954664; 144.873276 (Daikoku Island)	1.07	1972	3
Hide Island	日出島鳥獣保護区		Iwate	39°41′14″N 141°59′16″E / 39.687152°N 141.987648°E / 39.687152; 141.987648 (Hide Island)	0.08	1982	3
	三貫島鳥獣保護区		Iwate	39°18′21″N 141°58′57″E / 39.305878°N 141.982498°E / 39.305878; 141.982498 (Sangan Island)	0.25	1981	3
	祗苗島鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	34°12′28″N 139°11′30″E / 34.207685°N 139.191713°E / 34.207685; 139.191713 (Tadanae-jima)	5.93	2010	3
Ōnohara-jima	大野原島鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	34°02′41″N 139°23′15″E / 34.044722°N 139.3875°E / 34.044722; 139.3875 (Ōnohara-jima)	5.46	2010	3
Nishinoshima	西之島鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	27°14′49″N 140°52′28″E / 27.246944°N 140.874444°E / 27.246944; 140.874444 (Nishinoshima)	0.29	2008	3
North Iwo Jima	北硫黄島鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	25°26′17″N 141°16′59″E / 25.438082°N 141.282978°E / 25.438082; 141.282978 (North Iwo Jima)	8.60	2009	3
Minamitorishima	南鳥島鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	24°16′59″N 153°59′11″E / 24.283056°N 153.986389°E / 24.283056; 153.986389 (Minamitorishima)	3.95	2009	3
Nanatsu-jima	七ツ島鳥獣保護区		Ishikawa	37°36′35″N 136°54′05″E / 37.609722°N 136.901389°E / 37.609722; 136.901389 (Nanatsu-jima)	0.24	1973	3
Kiinagashima	紀伊長島鳥獣保護区		Mie	34°11′52″N 136°19′45″E / 34.197818°N 136.329045°E / 34.197818; 136.329045 (Kiinagashima)	61.31	1969	3
Kanmurijima - Kutsujima	冠島・沓島鳥獣保護区		Kyoto	35°40′53″N 135°25′28″E / 35.681370°N 135.424433°E / 35.681370; 135.424433 (Kanmurijima - Kutsujima)	13.00	2010	3
	鹿久居島鳥獣保護区		Okayama	34°43′10″N 134°18′20″E / 34.719444°N 134.305556°E / 34.719444; 134.305556 (Kakui Island)	6.62	1953	3
Okinoshima	沖ノ島鳥獣保護区		Fukuoka	34°14′40″N 130°06′15″E / 34.244411°N 130.104046°E / 34.244411; 130.104046 (Okinoshima)	0.97	1984	3
Danjo Islands	男女群島鳥獣保護区		Nagasaki	31°59′20″N 128°21′07″E / 31.988889°N 128.351944°E / 31.988889; 128.351944 (Danjo Islands)	4.16	1973	3
Birōjima	枇榔島鳥獣保護区		Miyazaki	32°27′54″N 131°43′51″E / 32.464911°N 131.730795°E / 32.464911; 131.730795 (Birōjima)	4.82	2010	3
Kusagaki-jima	草垣島鳥獣保護区		Kagoshima	30°50′32″N 129°26′01″E / 30.842184°N 129.433665°E / 30.842184; 129.433665 (Kusagaki-jima)	0.21	1973	3
	仲の神島鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	24°11′42″N 123°33′50″E / 24.195°N 123.563889°E / 24.195; 123.563889 (Nakanokami Island)	0.18	1981	3
Shiretoko	知床鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	44°03′17″N 145°06′14″E / 44.054778°N 145.103989°E / 44.054778; 145.103989 (Shiretoko)	440.53	1982	4
Kushiro Shitsugen	釧路湿原鳥獣保護区		Hokkaidō	43°03′59″N 144°17′49″E / 43.066254°N 144.297009°E / 43.066254; 144.297009 (Kushiro Shitsugen)	172.41	1958	4
Western Shimokita	下北西部鳥獣保護区		Aomori	41°18′52″N 141°05′21″E / 41.314434°N 141.089172°E / 41.314434; 141.089172 (Western Shimokita)	49.14	1984	4
Hotokenuma	仏沼鳥獣保護区		Aomori	40°48′55″N 141°22′52″E / 40.815303°N 141.381083°E / 40.815303; 141.381083 (Hotokenuma)	7.37	2005	4
Ōgata	大潟草原鳥獣保護区		Akita	40°00′56″N 139°57′08″E / 40.015520°N 139.952259°E / 40.015520; 139.952259 (Ōgata Grasslands)	1.50	1977	4
	森吉山鳥獣保護区		Akita	39°58′35″N 140°32′40″E / 39.976265°N 140.544577°E / 39.976265; 140.544577 (Mount Moriyoshi)	65.98	1973	4
Ōshima Asahi	大鳥朝日鳥獣保護区		Yamagata, Niigata	38°15′38″N 139°55′20″E / 38.260592°N 139.922261°E / 38.260592; 139.922261 (Ōshima Asahi)	382.85	1984	4
Tori-shima	鳥島鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	30°29′02″N 140°18′11″E / 30.483889°N 140.303056°E / 30.483889; 140.303056 (Tori-shima)	4.79	1954	4
Ogasawara	小笠原群島鳥獣保護区		Tokyo	27°06′32″N 142°12′14″E / 27.108798°N 142.203941°E / 27.108798; 142.203941 (Ogasawara)	200.65	1980	4
Eastern Sado	小佐渡東部鳥獣保護区		Niigata	38°03′55″N 138°26′14″E / 38.065392°N 138.437347°E / 38.065392; 138.437347 (Eastern Sado)	129.19	1982	4
Northern Alps	北アルプス鳥獣保護区		Toyama, Nagano, Gifu	36°16′19″N 137°38′12″E / 36.271957°N 137.636719°E / 36.271957; 137.636719 (Northern Alps)	1,099.89	1984	4
Maruyama River Basin	円山川下流域鳥獣保護区		Hyōgo	35°38′45″N 134°49′49″E / 35.645788°N 134.830399°E / 35.645788; 134.830399 (Maruyama River Basin)	10.84	2012	4
Ina	伊奈鳥獣保護区		Nagasaki	34°36′22″N 129°25′08″E / 34.606085°N 129.418945°E / 34.606085; 129.418945 (Ina)	11.73	1988	4
	舟志ノ内鳥獣保護区		Nagasaki	34°35′59″N 129°26′08″E / 34.599725°N 129.435616°E / 34.599725; 129.435616 (Shūshinouchi)	3.40	2015	4
	湯湾岳鳥獣保護区		Kagoshima	31°44′18″N 130°38′51″E / 31.738387°N 130.647440°E / 31.738387; 130.647440 (Mount Yuwan)	3.20	1965	4
	名蔵アンパル鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	24°22′50″N 124°07′56″E / 24.380522°N 124.132161°E / 24.380522; 124.132161 (Nagura-Anparu)	11.45	2003	4
Yanbaru (Ada)	やんばる（安田）鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	26°45′10″N 128°19′32″E / 26.752700°N 128.325419°E / 26.752700; 128.325419 (Yanbaru (Ada))	12.79	2009	4
Yanbaru (Aha)	やんばる（安波）鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	26°42′59″N 128°15′55″E / 26.716404°N 128.265209°E / 26.716404; 128.265209 (Yanbaru (Aha))	4.65	2009	4
Daitō Islands	大東諸島鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	25°51′26″N 131°14′18″E / 25.857293°N 131.238470°E / 25.857293; 131.238470 (Daitō Islands)	42.51	2004	4
Yonaguni	与那国鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	24°26′59″N 122°58′27″E / 24.449650°N 122.974262°E / 24.449650; 122.974262 (Yonaguni)	10.40	2010	4
Iriomote	西表鳥獣保護区		Okinawa	24°20′29″N 123°49′26″E / 24.341466°N 123.823814°E / 24.341466; 123.823814 (Iriomote)	102.18	1992	4

Complementary measures[]

Wildlife Protection Areas are just one element in a network of complementary protected area systems.^[8] Others include Wilderness Areas and Nature Conservation Areas under the Nature Conservation Law; Natural Parks under the Natural Parks Law; Natural Habitat Conservation Areas under the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Natural Monuments and Special Natural Monuments under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties 1950; Protected Forests under the National Forest Management Bylaw; and under the Preservation of Fisheries Resources Law.^[8] Areas are also protected in accordance with three international programmes: the World Heritage Convention (see Yakushima, Shirakami-Sanchi, Shiretoko, and Ogasawara Islands); Man and the Biosphere Programme (see Yakushima, Mount Ōmine/Mount Ōdaigahara, Hakusan, and Shiga Kōgen); and the Ramsar Convention (see Ramsar Sites in Japan).^[8]

See also[]

• Wildlife of Japan
• National Parks of Japan
• Environmental issues in Japan

References[]

External links[]

• Protected areas in Japan (Ministry of the Environment)
• Overview of wildlife protection in Japan (Ministry of the Environment)
• Map of all 86 Wildlife Protection Areas (Ministry of the Environment)
• (in Japanese) Wildlife protection in Japan (Ministry of the Environment)