 Awase tidal flat area, Okinawa, Japan |
Map of Awase |
Awase tidal flat area, Okinawa, Japan |
Map of Awase |
| The Government of Japan hosted "the International Workshop on Conservation of Migratory Waterfowl and Their Habitats" in Okinawa in October 2000, following the summer G8 Summit meeting held there. The latest (11th) Ramsar site in Japan - Manko - is also located in Okinawa. The Government of Japan has, however, recently issued its approval to a landfill project in the central Okinawa Island, which will destroy one of the most important tidal flat areas in Okinawa Island - the Awase. Unfortunately the Ministry of Environment (renamed since early 2001, formerly the Environment Agency) has no opportunity to express its opinion over this project. Conservation NGOs have criticized this 187 ha landfill project. According to them, the main issues are as follows: 1. The Awase tidal flat area is one of most important among remaining tidal flat areas in Okinawa. Shorelines especially inner bay areas have been already heavily developed in Okinawa Island. 2. Awase is strategically an important area for the conservation of migratory waterfowl. The largest concentration of waterfowl within Okinawa Island was observed in Awase tidal flat area. Among important waterfowl species are little tern (Sterna albifrons) , Pacific golden plover (Pluvialis fulva) and Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus). 3. The EIA has been done but hardly appropriate. Although recognizing the Awase area as an important seagrass bed site for its extent and seagrass diversity, the EIS has simply concluded that transplanting of seagrass will be sufficient to compensate the loss of original seagrass habitats. The local government of Okinawa is now preparing landfilling. Please help us to stop this unwise use of the Awase tidal flat area in Okinawa.
Link pages: 1. General background 2. EIA for the landfill project 3. Is the transplanting feasible and appropriate? e-mail: awaseenglish@hotmail.com（Nari） |
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