MAFF UPDATE No.740 (Published on October 22nd, 2012)

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Formulation of new “Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan”

On 1st October 2012, the Forestry Agency of the Ministry, the Ministry of the Environment, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kagoshima Prefecture and Yakushima-cho formulated a new “Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan”, with planning in line with the current situation including new findings to promote management in the World Heritage Area.

This announcement was simultaneously published by the Forestry Agency, Kyushu Regional Forest Office, the Ministry of the Environment, the Kyushu Regional Environment Offices, Kagoshima Prefecture and Yakushima-cho.

1. Background

In November 1995, the Forestry Agency, the Ministry of Environment, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs formulated the “Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan”. Since then, the Agencies have carried out management according to the plan.

However, the ecosystem and natural landscape might be threatened due to an increase in the number of both climbers and “Yakushika (Yakushika deer) in recent years. Therefore, the Agencies have been developing a new “Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan” by collecting public comments, aiming to promote new management of the World Heritage Area on the basis of the current situation including new findings.

On 1st October 2012, the Forestry Agency, the Ministry of Environment Agency, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kagoshima Prefecture and Yakushima-cho formulated a new “Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan”.

2. Points of new “Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan”

The points of new “Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan” are as follows:

(1) Kagoshima Prefecture and Yakushima-cho joined in this management plan as new formulators, for managing the World Heritage area.

(2) The following points were designated as viewed from the perspective of management:

To carry out comprehensive management on ecosystems and outstanding natural landscape in the World Heritage area by assessing the situation from various viewpoints, considering eco-diversity that consists of mutual interaction among many creatures, such as human beings, and various conditions of topography, geology, and climate
To carry out adaptive management based on uncertain prediction details because of the complexity of the ecosystem
To carry out management by viewing over a wide range of neighboring areas because these are contiguous to the World Heritage area

(3) In particular, as the number of Yakushika (deer) has markedly increased, there will be significant impact on the ecosystem. The Agencies outlined a policy to adjust the population and recover the ecosystem on the basis of the Specified Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan and the Ecosystem Maintenance and Recovery Project Plan.

(4) The Agencies defined usage policies on main climb trails and a region, aiming to wisely use because of the increasing number of mountain climbers on specific climb trails which might threaten to affect its ecosystem. In addition, the Agencies announced they would also promote a policy of ecotourism.

3. Website:

Regarding the "Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan (in Japanese)" and an "Overview of Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan (in Japanese)", please visit the following website.

URL of Forestry Agency The Kyushu Regional Forest Office:
http://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/kyusyu/press/keikaku/121001.html

4. Reference

Press release dated January 27, 2012
"Public Comments on the World Heritage Area Management Plan (draft in Japanese):
http://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/kyusyu/press/keikaku/120127.html

5. Contact:

Private Forest Department, Research, Extension, and Environment Policy Division, Forest Environment Conservation Office
Persons in charge: Forest Environment Conservation Group: Onuma, Sakurai
Telephone Number: 03-3502-8111 (extension: 6216)
Dial-in: 03-3501-3845
Fax: 03-3502-2887

National Forest Department, National Forest Planning Division
Person in charge: Forest Environment Conservation Group: Takatsuka, Kashiwa
Telephone Number: 03 -3502 -8111 (extension: 6283)
Dial-in: 03 -6744 -2322
Fax: 03-3592-6259

大臣官房国際部国際政策課
ダイヤルイン：03-3502-5851
FAX：03-3502-8084

International Policy Plannng Division
International Affairs Department
Tel:+81-3-3591-9681 Fax:+81-3-5512-7652

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