A subtropical wetland of tidal flats and mangroves in one of the … · 2018. 4. 3. · Designed...
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RAMSAR SITES in JAPAN 54 A subtropical wetland of tidal flats and mangroves in one of the southwesternmost islands of the Japan Nagura amparu Geographical Coordinates: 24°23’N, 124°08’E / Altitude: 0m / Area: 157ha / Major Type of Wetland: Estuarine tidal flat, mangrove forest / Designation: Special Area of National Wildlife Protection Area, Special Protection Zone of National Park / Municipalities Involved: Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture / Ramsar Designation: November 2005 / Ramsar Criteria: 1, 3, 7 Extensive mangroves in the tidal flat View of the Nagura Amparu from the east Crested Serpent Eagle Top: The Barred Mudskipper, Bottom: Fiddler Crab Estuarine Tidal Flat, Mangrove Forest General Overview: Ishigaki Island is situated 400km south- west of Okinawa Island and is found at the center of the Yaeyama Island group in the southernmost end of the 3000km long Japanese Archipelago. It is a subtropi- cal island with an area of 22,200ha and a population of 48,000. The annual average temperature is approximately 24 degrees C with little fluctuation from month to month. Nagura Amparu is a tidal flat with man- grove forests located on the west coast of Ishigaki Island, where the Nagura River flows into Nagura Bay. This estuarine tidal flat stretches 2km from north to south and 1.5km from east to west. This is a typical wetland found in subtropical regions, with a tidal flat, mangrove forest, beach and coastal forest. This type of wetland with a series of diverse subtropical habitats is uncommon and valuable in Japan. This wetland was developed in a basin-like ter- rain facing the sea. The accumulation of muddy sediment shaped the shallow la- goon and the sandbar on the coast. Mangroves and Biodiversity: Mangroves are found only in limited regions in Japan. Nagura Amparu is one of the major mangrove habitats in Japan with species in the family Rhizophora- ceae characterized by their stilt roots and respiratory roots, such as Bruguiera gym- norhiza, Lumnitzera racemosa, Rhizophara mucronata, and Avicennia marina. The tidal flat is a habitat for a variety of benthos, fish fry and crustaceans such as lugworms and mud shrimps. Especially, shrimps and crabs are abundant including a number of endemic rare species. The spe- cies here are also a source of inspiration for locals. The behaviors of some crabs are humorously personified in a folk song. A Stopover Point for Migratory Birds: Supporting a rich feeding ground and safe environment, Nagura Amparu is an important stopover point for a variety of migratory shorebirds including Black- faced Spoonbill. This wetland is also home to the Crested Serpent Eagle, and Ryukyu Scops Owl. [Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela perplexus] It is an eagle with a body length of approximately 55cm, almost the same as that of the Common Buzzard. It is widely found throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and the southern Ryukyu Islands. In Japan, it is a resident bird distributed only in Iriomote Island and Ishigaki Island, the northernmost habitat of this species. Although it feeds mainly on snakes, it also preys on the abundant crabs in Nagura Amparu. It is a top preda- tor in the ecosystem here. Contact Information: Ishigaki City Office http://www.city.ishigaki.okinawa.jp/ Rd. Rd. Nagura Amparu Nagura Bay East China Sea Brige Nagura River Agricultural Area Agricultural Area Nagura Town Ishigaki City
Transcript of A subtropical wetland of tidal flats and mangroves in one of the … · 2018. 4. 3. · Designed...
Conservation and Wise Use of Rich and Diverse WetlandsRAMSAR SITES in JAPAN
Copyright: Ministry of the Environment, Japan 2012
Published by: Ministry of the Environment, Japan
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E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.env.go.jp/en
Edited by: Wildlife Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment
In collaboration with: Wetlands International-Japan,
Nakamura Reiko Office, Mari Yamada, Mina Yoshikai, Yayoi Sato, Yuki Arai, Yuko Chiba, and Yuko Kurosawa
Designed by: Furuta Osamu Design Office / Ayano Abe
Printed in Japan / Printed on recycle paper
Photographs and contributed by:
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Contact Information: Ministry of the Environment, Japan Website: http://www.env.go.jp/en
Ministry of the Environment, Japan
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RAMSAR SITES in JAPAN54
A subtropical wetland of tidal flats and mangroves in one of the southwesternmost islands of the Japan
Nagura amparuGeographical Coordinates: 24°23’N, 124°08’E / Altitude: 0m / Area: 157ha / Major Type of Wetland: Estuarine tidal flat, mangrove forest / Designation: Special Area of National Wildlife Protection Area, Special Protection Zone of National Park / Municipalities Involved: Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture / Ramsar Designation: November 2005 / Ramsar Criteria: 1, 3, 7
Extensive mangroves in the tidal flat
View of the Nagura Amparu from the east
Crested Serpent Eagle
Top: The Barred Mudskipper,Bottom: Fiddler Crab
Estuarine Tidal Flat, Mangrove Forest
General Overview:Ishigaki Island is situated 400km south-
west of Okinawa Island and is found at the center of the Yaeyama Island group in the southernmost end of the 3000km long Japanese Archipelago. It is a subtropi-cal island with an area of 22,200ha and a population of 48,000. The annual average temperature is approximately 24 degrees C with little fluctuation from month to month.
Nagura Amparu is a tidal flat with man-grove forests located on the west coast of Ishigaki Island, where the Nagura River flows into Nagura Bay. This estuarine tidal flat stretches 2km from north to south and 1.5km from east to west. This is a typical wetland found in subtropical regions, with a tidal flat, mangrove forest, beach and coastal forest. This type of wetland with a series of diverse subtropical habitats is uncommon and valuable in Japan. This wetland was developed in a basin-like ter-rain facing the sea. The accumulation of muddy sediment shaped the shallow la-goon and the sandbar on the coast.Mangroves and Biodiversity:
Mangroves are found only in limited regions in Japan. Nagura Amparu is one of the major mangrove habitats in Japan with species in the family Rhizophora-ceae characterized by their stilt roots and respiratory roots, such as Bruguiera gym-norhiza, Lumnitzera racemosa, Rhizophara mucronata, and Avicennia marina.
The tidal flat is a habitat for a variety of benthos, fish fry and crustaceans such
as lugworms and mud shrimps. Especially, shrimps and crabs are abundant including a number of endemic rare species. The spe-cies here are also a source of inspiration for locals. The behaviors of some crabs are humorously personified in a folk song. A Stopover Point for Migratory Birds:
Supporting a rich feeding ground and safe environment, Nagura Amparu is an important stopover point for a variety of migratory shorebirds including Black- faced Spoonbill. This wetland is also home to the Crested Serpent Eagle, and Ryukyu Scops Owl.[Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela perplexus] It is an eagle with a body length of approximately 55cm, almost the same as that of the Common Buzzard. It is widely found throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and the southern Ryukyu Islands. In Japan, it is a resident bird
distributed only in Iriomote Island and Ishigaki Island, the northernmost habitat of this species. Although it feeds mainly on snakes, it also preys on the abundant crabs in Nagura Amparu. It is a top preda-tor in the ecosystem here.Contact Information: Ishigaki City Office http://www.city.ishigaki.okinawa.jp/
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