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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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YAKUSHIMA ISLAND |
 © Photo: Yakushima Island BR |
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| General Description | The Yakushima Island Biosphere Reserve is located at the Kagoshima Prefecture at Kyushu in the southern part of Japan. The area (about 38 % of the island) is protected as a National Park (1964) and a Wilderness Area (1975). Mt. Miyanoura (1,936 meters above sea level), the highest mountain in Kyushu, stands at the center of the island. It comprises sub-tropical and temperate rainforests, evergreen coniferous forest with yaku cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) some of which are 1000 years old, and evergreen dwarf bamboo grassland around the mountain peaks. The Yakushima islanders have climbed the mountains since ancient times to take part in a traditional ritual for bountiful agricultural and fish harvests and for safety in the home. Approximately 14,000 people live in the island, engaged in tourism, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and other industries. The Biosphere Reserve receives about 200,000 visitors for recreation activities. Many Japanese scientists participate in research within the Biosphere Reserve. The results give a better understanding of the natural environment. The Ministry of the Environment, the Forestry Agency, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kamiyaku-town and Yaku-town manage the area through the Yakushima World Heritage Area Liaison Committee, based on the Yakushima World Heritage Area Management Plan. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Sub-tropical and temperate rainforests | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Island; coastal lowland forests with Ficus microcarpa, Trema orientalis, Ardisia quinquegona etc.; thick and deep evergreen oak-laurel forest in the lowland; evergreen coniferous forest with yaku cedars (Cryptomeria japonica), Abies firma, Tsuga sieboldii etc.; evergreen dwarf bamboo grassland around mountain peaks; agroecosystems; forestry systems | |||
| Location | 30°20'N; 130°30'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 18,958 | |||
| Core area(s) | 7,559 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 11,399 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +1,935 | |||
| Year designated | 1980 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Ministry of the Environment, the Forest Agency and the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO | |||
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| Brief description |
Forest ecology |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | n.a. | |||
| Biodiversity | Ecology, sub-tropical and temperate rainforest/sub-tropical forest. | |||
| Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | n.a. | |||
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| Contact address |
Yakushima Island Ranger Office for Natural Conservation Ministry of the Environment, Anbo 2739-343, Yaku-cho, Kumage-gun 891-4311 Kagoshima Prefecture Japan |
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| Telephone | (81.9974) 6 2992 | |||
| Fax | (81.9974) 6 2977 | |||
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RO-YAKUSHIMA@env.go.jp |
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| Last updated: 10/12/2007 |
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