Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property
Monitoring Plan
Revised in March 2017

March 31, 2017

Regional Liaison Committee for Shirakami-Sanchi
World Heritage Property

Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property Monitoring Plan
(Table of Contents)
1.

Purpose of the Monitoring Plan

2

Objectives of Monitoring

3.

Monitoring Items and Evaluation Criteria

4.

Description of Survey for Each Monitoring Item

5.

Implementation of Monitoring

6.

Compilation and Report of Survey Results

7.

Evaluation of Monitoring Results

8.

Utilization of Monitoring Results

9.

Modifications to the Monitoring Plan

10. Others(Attached Table 1) Monitoring Items and Evaluation Criteria(Attached Table 2) List of Monitoring Survey Items(Reference 1)

Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Shirakami-Sanchi

World Heritage Property(Reference 2)

Charter of the Scientific Committee for Shirakami-Sanchi World

Heritage Property(Reference 3)
Monitoring Survey

Evaluation Results of Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property

Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property Monitoring Plan
1. Purpose of the Monitoring Plan
With respect to the beech forest of the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property(hereinafter referred to as "the Property"), it is necessary to conserve and manage its
ecosystem in an adaptive manner based on scientific knowledge. Therefore, the Tohoku
Regional Environment Office of the Ministry of the Environment, the Tohoku Regional
Forest Office of the Forestry Agency, Aomori Prefecture, Akita Prefecture and themunicipalities concerned (hereinafter referred to as "the Relevant Administrative
Bodies") shall promote monitoring of the natural heritage in cooperation with
universities, research institutes and other academic experts. The methods ofconservation and utilization of the Property will be reviewed based on the results of themonitoring, and more effective methods will be employed for conservation managementof the Property.
This monitoring plan is designed to promote adaptive conservation management*
based on scientific findings, and to ensure that the ecosystem and value of the beech
forest on the Property is passed on to future generation. It aims to define monitoring
objectives, monitoring items and evaluation criteria for the monitoring survey to be
implemented by the Relevant Administrative Bodies over the next ten year period, as
well as to clarify the contents, implementation, evaluation of results and other mattersconcerning the monitoring.
* Adaptive conservation management: A method to manage feedback while constantly
monitoring by incorporating the possibility of occurrence of situations that differ from theinitial prediction into the management system in advance.

2. Objectives of Monitoring
In order to monitor whether the outstanding universal value (OUV: see Reference 1)of the Property is maintained, it is necessary to accurately identify changes in thenatural environment such as climate change, changes in the social environment suchas human activities, and the impact of these changes on the Property. Therefore, theobjectives of monitoring have been set as follows. Based on these objectives, a range ofsurveys will be conducted and the items and contents will be arranged. In addition, if
there are concerns about the risk of undermining the OUV, the risk factors will beidentified promptly.
Monitoring
Objective I

The basic environmental conditions for meteorological,hydrological and terrestrial phenomena that sustain the beechforest are identified.
Monitoring
Objective II
Objective
II-A
Objective
II-B
Monitoring
Objective III

The forest ecosystem, mainly of the beech forest, is maintained.
The effects of climate change and the signs of its effects are
identified.
Highly pristine beech forests are maintained in a healthy
condition over a wide area.
The diversity of flora and fauna in the beech forest is adequately
preserved.
The OUV is managed properly, taking into account changes insocial conditions surrounding the Property, so that the value atthe time of its inscription on the World Heritage List is notadversely affected by human use or activities, and benefits
regional development.

3. Monitoring Items and Evaluation Criteria
Based on the monitoring objectives in 2 above, the monitoring items, specific survey
items, risk/precursory phenomena that could undermine the value of the natural
heritage and evaluation criteria, etc., are shown in Attached Table 1, "Monitoring Items
and Evaluation Criteria."
Given that the evaluation criteria are used for managing risks involved in the World
Heritage Property, they have been established based on efficiency and other factors,
with a focus on risks that are significant in terms of their magnitude and frequency ofoccurrence, which could impair the value of the World Heritage.

4. Description of Survey for Each Monitoring Item
Locations, frequency, contents, and implementing body for each monitoring item
(monitoring objective and specific survey item) for the Property and its surroundingarea are shown in Attached Table 2, "List of Monitoring Survey Items."

5. Implementation of Monitoring
The implementing body of each survey shall strive to systematically conduct surveys
related to the monitoring items in accordance with this monitoring plan.
In implementing the monitoring, the implementing body of each survey shallpromote coordination/collaboration with theRegional

Liaison Committee for

Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property (hereinafter referred to as "the Regional
Liaison Committee"), universities, research institutes and other academic experts.
Advice from the Scientific Committee for Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property(hereinafter referred to as the "Scientific Committee") should also be obtained.

<Priority Surveys>
Because the monitoring plan includes a wide variety of surveys, including
OUV-related surveys and high-profile surveys, surveys of particular importance("priority surveys") have been selected from the perspective of adaptive conservation
management.
* Selection criteria(1) Closely related to OUV(2) Closely related to evaluation criteria(3) Likely to fluctuate in the short term(4) Cost-effective and sustainable
The priority surveys shall be carried out appropriately and effectively throughmutual coordination among the implementing bodies under detailed advice from the
Scientific Committee on the methods of implementation (survey practice, sampling
data, precautions, etc.).

6. Compilation and Reporting of Survey Results
The Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Center Nishimeya Kan, on behalf of theRegional Liaison Committee, shall solicit cooperation of the implementing bodies. It
shall compile the results of their surveys after the implementing bodies have completed
the surveys and clarify the findings from the surveys and their relationship with theevaluation criteria (hereinafter referred to as "monitoring results"). The monitoring
results will be reported to the Scientific Committee after obtaining the approval of theRegional Liaison Committee.

7. Assessment of Monitoring Results
The Scientific Committee will evaluate and analyze the monitoring results, especiallythose related to the evaluation criteria, and provide advice to the Regional Liaison
Committee on the conservation management of the Property.
The evaluation of monitoring results will be basically conducted about once every five
years.
The Regional Liaison Committee examines the implementation or review ofconservation management projects in the Property and its surrounding area, taking theadvice of the Scientific Committee into account.
<Evaluation and Review>
In fiscal 2016, the results of the monitoring surveys for the previous five years werecompiled, and evaluation and review of the monitoring activities were conducted taking
into account the advice of the Scientific Committee. For evaluation of the monitoring
survey, see Reference 3, “Evaluation Results of Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage
Property Monitoring Survey.”

8. Utilization of Monitoring Results
Monitoring results and their evaluation shall be distributed as needed to theRelevant Administrative Bodies and be made widely available to the public through the
Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Center Nishimeya Kan. The results and evaluation
will also be used by member organizations of the Regional Liaison Committee forproper management of the Property. In addition, information on rare species shall be
dealt with carefully.

9. Modifications to the Monitoring Plan
This monitoring plan shall be reviewed basically every five years and may be
modified by the Regional Liaison Committee based on the evaluation of the monitoring
results and the advice of the Scientific Committee on conservation management of theProperty.

10. Others
If the results of a survey conducted by external organizations other than the Regional
Liaison Committee are determined to be necessary for evaluation, the Regional Liaison
Committee will request cooperation from such external implementing organizations toallow the Committee to use their results.
The Regional Liaison Committee shall also proactively ask the external

implementing bodies to cooperate in the usage of the data.

Attached Table 1: Monitoring Items and Evaluation Criteria (1/2)
Specific

undermine the value of the natural

survey items

heritage
Meteorological conditions change to a degree

Meteorologicalinformation in the(1) World
Heritage
Propertyandsurrounding area

Atmospherictemperature,
precipitation amount,amount of snow, winddirection/velocity,
humidity, amount ofsolar radiation, etc.

[There have been no reports of figures

Forestmicrometeorology

Atmospherictemperature, groundtemperature,
foresthumidity, maximum
snow depth
Water quality (pH,turbidity,
nutrient
salts,
chemical
substances, etc.), flow
rate

Hydrological conditions change to a degree that

Water quality and(1) flow rate of majorriversGeographical conditions, etc. change to a

TopographicalFeatures

Broad-area
topographicalmap,
and the status ofchanges in collapsed
land

g

Major

Minor

objectives

classification

classification

1

Meteorolo
gical
conditions

I. The basic(2)

environmentalconditionsformeteorologi

2

cal,

Hydrologic
alconditionshydrologicalandterrestrial(1)

phenomenathat sustain
the

beech

forestare3

identified.

4

Geologicalconditions,etc.

Identificationofgroundsurfacecoverageand(2) unusual
topographicalfeatures of entirearea

II A. Highly
1

beech
forestsaremaintainedin a healthy
conditionover a wide

Present condition offorest,shrubland,grassland,collapsedland,developmentareas (roads, dams),
etc.
Status of radioactive
substances

Agriculturalchemicals

Status of use of
agricultural chemicals

Identificationof(1) changes in forests
at fixed sites

Changes in individual
beech
growth,hierarchical structure,understory vegetation,
production
amount(net production, seedproduction, etc.)

OthersForeststructureofbeech
forests,
Areawide changes(2)etc.
in forests

Changes inphysiognomy
vegetation

forestandthat may threaten the ecosystem, etc. of
Shirakami-Sanchi, due to a rise of atmospherictemperature, frequent occurrence of heavy rain
and strong wind, a decrease in the amount ofsnow, etc.
significantly exceeding average-year values
due to abnormal weather, etc.]

maythreaten

the

river

ecosystemofShirakami-Sanchi, due to changes in water
quality and flow rate.

degree that may threaten the ecosystem of
Shirakami-sanchi, due to occurrence of landcollapse/landslide,decreasesinavalanche

vegetation areas, changes in alpine vegetation
area/wetland area, etc.
[Among large-scale land collapse and landslidecases, no significant natural disturbance that
may affect the ecosystem has been reported.]

Significant change is observed in the status ofgrowth of beech forest, renewal conditions of
beech

forest,beech

distribution

areas,

hierarchical structure, number of beech trees
growing (difference between the number ofwithered trees and the number of promoted
trees), and production volume (net production,
seed production, etc.).
[No continuous and significant change has

Genetic diversity
and spatial genetic(3)
structure of beech
populations

Genetic diversity andspatialgenetic
structure of beech
populations

been reported with regard to growth of beechA

Impact on
Forestnoxiousbeech(1) insects
andforest, etc.
damage status

Damagefrom
Syntypistis
punctatella
andVenusia
phasma,occurrence of Japanese
oak wilt, pine wilt, etc.

area.
2

[Evaluation criteria](1) Radiation level(2)

pristine

Risk/precursory phenomena that could

Monitoring items

Monitorin

trees in the marginal part of the beech
distribution area.]
substantial

decrease

in

major

trees

constituting beech forests is observed due tooccurrence/expansion of damage from noxious
insects and meteorological damage.
[There has been no significant damage from

noxious insects in the surrounding area, and nodamage has been discovered in areas where
host tree species are densely growing.](1) Flora

1

Flora
(2)

Existing
vegetation

Phenology of beech(3)
forestII

B.

The(1) Faunadiversity of
flora

and

fauna in thebeech forestisadequately
preserved.

2

Fauna

Living conditions
endangered(2) ofspecies

Present condition ofvegetation,
rare
plants, species thatgrow close to theirdistribution
limits,Satoyama
plants,invasive plants, etc.
Present condition ofvegetation

Significant changes are confirmed in the plant
distribution area, such as disappearance of rare
plants, entry and settlement of invasive species
associated with utilization, as well as regularappearance of such phenomena.
[Invasive plants have not settled in thegrowing area of existing vegetation.]

Phenology of budding,
fruition, coloring ofleaves, fallen leaves,etc.
Changes in living
conditions of uniquespecies of mammals,
birds,
reptiles,amphibians,
insects
and fishChanges in living
conditionsof
Dryocopus
martius,
Aquila chrysaetos andNisaetus nipalensis

The phenology has significantly changed due toclimate change with continuous appearance ofseveral phenomena.

Habitats
nipponof

Cervus(3) Invasive animals(4) Impact on animals

3

Fungi

Survey(1) distribution
fungi

on
of

Occurrence status of
infectious diseases
Conditionofsoil
fungus,yeast,
lactobacillus,
actinomycete, etc.

Irrecoverable changes are observed in keystone
species and umbrella species (decrease in the
populations of Ursus thibetanus andCapricornis crispus, animals representing thebeech forest of the relevant area, decrease inpopulation and reproductive rate of rare birds(in particular, Aquila chrysaetos, Dryocopus
martius, Histrionicus historionicus, among
others)).
[No significant change has been observed in the
population of large mammals. The reproductive
rate of birds of prey has not declined
continuously.]
Deterioration and simplification of vegetation
are observed associated with invasion of
Cervus nippon into the Heritage Property.
[There have been no reports on living andsettlement of Cervus nippon in municipalities
around the Heritage Property]

Irreversible changes are observed in theenvironment, such as changes in thecomposition of soil fungus due to acidprecipitation and changes in the composition of
specific fungi due to climate change.

Attached Table 1: Monitoring Items and Evaluation Criteria (2/2)
Risk/precursory phenomena that could

Monitoring items
Monitorin

Specific

g

Major

Minor

objectives

classification

classification

survey items

undermine the value of the natural
heritage[Evaluation criteria] Corrections areindicated in red.

III.

The

OUV

is

(1) Number of visitors

managedproperly,
taking into1

accountchangesUsage
environment(2)

Present status of
use of major trails

Present status of use ofmajor trails
Conditionofguideposts, tape, paint,
remaining graffiti, etc.

(3) User manners

inNumber of visitorsof users have been reported.]

conditions
surroundingtheProperty, so
thevalue at the2time of its
inscriptiononthe

Number of users offacilities
at(1) conservation andutilizationsites,
Contributi
etc.
on
to
regional
developme
Environmental
nt(2) education
andawareness raising

World
Heritageadverselybyhuman useor activities,
and benefits
regional
development.

3Socialenvironment
Statussurroundi (1)
areas
ng
the
Heritage
Property

Number of users offacilities
atconservation
andutilization sites, etc.
Statusofenvironmental
educationandawarenessraisingusing World Natural
Heritage
Total
population,
depopulation,
population by industry

List is notaffected[No malicious illegal acts or violation ofmanners, and no rapid increase in the number

socialthat

Significant alterations of the ecosystems byhumans and decline in heritage preservation
awareness are observed, such as expansion ofmountain trails, contamination of river water,
and frequent occurrence of various illegal acts
(damaging trees, collecting plants, fishing inmountain streams, making fires).

of

local

Facilities at conservation and utilization sites
are not utilized and no initiatives to raise theheritage value, such as the awareness raising
activities, have been implemented.
[Decreasing trends have not been seen in thenumber of users of facilities at conservation
andutilizationsites,

thenumberofawareness-raising activities related to heritage
value, and the number of environmental
education activities]
There is a risk of the disappearance of folk
knowledge, such as use of mountain vegetables
and hunting

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (1/9)
Monitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items

Implementing
organization*

Survey name

Surveyyear

Meteorological observation
surveyin
From
MOE
Shirakami-Sanchi World
1998
Heritage Property and its
surrounding area
Meteorological observation
Hirosaki in Shirakami-Sanchi World From
Univ.
Heritage Property and its 2009
surrounding area

(1)
AtmosphericMeteorologi
temperature,cal
precipitation
information
amount,intheamountof Tsugaru
I.
World
snow,
wind Dam
The basic
Heritagedirection/veloci
environm
Propertyty,
humidity,
1
ental
and
amount of solar
conditions Meteor
surroundinradiation, etc.
ologica
Forestryforg areameteorolo lconditigical,hydrologic ons
aland
Othersterrestrial
phenomenathat
SurveyAtmosphericsustainCommitttemperature,
the beechee, MOE
groundforest are(2) Forest
temperature,
identified.
micrometeo
forestrologyhumidity,
maximum
Forestrysnow depth2Hydrologicalconditions

Water quality
(1)
Water
(pH, turbidity,
quality andTsugaru
nutritive salts,
flow rate ofDamchemicalmajor rivers
substances,

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

Every
year

Every
year

1990 to2006
On-site survey, etc. of themonitoring program on theimpact of climate change Fromon the forest ecosystem of 2010
the
World
Heritage
Property

Every
year

From
1976

Every
year

World
Heritage
From
Shirakami-Sanchi Beech
1999
Forest Monitoring Survey

Every
year

Surveyon
long-termchanges in virgin beech
From
forestinthe1998
Shirakami-Sanchi World
Heritage Property

Every
year

AMeDAS data

Tsugaru Dam Assessment 1990 toSurvey2006

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items
surveyAtmospherictemperature,groundRidge area of Mt.
To betemperature, precipitation amount,
Kushiishi,
continusnow depth, wind direction/velocity,
Futatsumori,ed
amount of solar radiation, humidity,
Nishimeya-muraatmospheric pressure
Okuakaishi Forest Precipitation
amount,atmospheric
To be
Road,
Shirakami temperature, humidity, atmosphericcontinu
NaturalScience pressure, wind direction/velocity, snowedPark
depth, CO2 concentration
Tsugaru
Dam
Atmospheric temperature, humidity,
catchment area andwind velocity
its surrounding area
Atmospherictemperature,groundtemperature, maximum snow depth
To beArea near the peak
(Program to examine measures forcontinu of Mt. Kodake, area
adaptation to the impact of climateednear Junikochange in the forest ecosystem of theWorld Heritage Property)
To be
Fukaura, Ajigasawa,
continu Dake,
Hachimori,ed
Fujisato
3 locations aroundTo be
Mt. Kushiishi (Ridge Atmospherictemperature,groundcontinu site,
Dryocopus temperature,humidityedmartiussite, (micrometeorology)
Yanadaki Site)
Yanadaki-no-Sawa
To beForestatmospherictesting site, Kasuge
continu
maximumsnowRiver source areaed
(micrometeorology)
testing site

temperature,
depth

Tsugaru
Dam
Water quality (includingcatchment area andsubstances), flow rate
its surrounding area

chemicaletc.), flow rate

Broad-area
topographical(1)map, and theTopographic
Forestrystatusofal featureschangesincollapsed land3(2)
GeologIdentificatio Present
ical
n of ground conditionofconditisurface
forests,
ons,
coverageshrubland,etc.
andgrassland,
Forestry
unusualcollapsed land,
topographic development
al features areas(roads,ofentire dams), etc.
area
(1)
Statusof
Aomori,
Radiation
radioactive
Akita
level
substances
4
Others (2)Status of use of
Aomori,
Agricultura agricultural
Akita
l chemicals chemicals

Survey on topographicalchangesin 2003,
Shirakami-Sanchi World 2011
Heritage Property

Once as
Preparationofabroad-areabasicComple Airplane measuring
topographical map using DTM (digital
informati ted
range (2×3 km)
terrain model) dataon

Survey on topographicalchangesin
2003,
Shirakami-Sanchi World
2011
Heritage
Property(reposted)

Once/10years orupon
detectingalarge-scale landcollapseor otherchangeTo be
3,000 ha of thecontinu
Heritage Property
ed

Identification of beech forest and othercommunity distribution, dynamics ofshrubberies, alpine vegetation, wetland
areas, etc., identification of gaps, etc.

None

Measuring air radiation levels outside
the Heritage Property

NoneStandards for use are determined inAgricultural Pest Control Guidelines.

* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita: Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech
Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (2/9)
Monitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items

Implementing
organiza
tion*

II A.
1
(1)
ChangesinHighlyForest Identificatio individual
Surveypristine
structu n of changes beech growth, Committ
beech
reof in forests at understoryee, MOE
forests are beech fixed sites
vegetation,

Survey name

Surveyyear

World
Heritage
Shirakami-Sanchi Beech From
Forest Monitoring Survey 1999
(reposted)

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

Every
year

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items

3 locations aroundTo be
Mt. Kushiishi (Ridge Monitoring survey of trees, shrubs,
continu site,
Dryocopus bamboo grass and seedlings, survey onedmartiussite, the amount of supply of litter and seeds
Yanadaki Site)

surve
y

maintaine forests,
d in a etc.
healthy
conditionoverawide area.

production
Surveyon
long-term
amount(net
changes in virgin beech
production,
forestinthe From
Forestryseed
Shirakami-Sanchi World 1998
production,
Heritage
Propertyetc.)(reposted)

Every
year

Yanadaki-no-Sawa
Every tree survey (adding new trees),
To betesting site, Kasuge canopy projection drawing, survey oncontinuRiver source area trees with collapsed canopy, forest flooredtesting site
vegetation survey

Shirakami-Sanchi
HirosakiTakakura Woods
Univ.
area

From
survey
2009

Every
year

Every tree survey, survey on community
To be
Takakura
Woods structures of young trees/seedlings,
continu
survey area (1.4 ha) survey on the amount of supply of litteredand seeds (for litter, sampling only)

IwasakiJuniorHigh
SchoolForest From
2005

Every
year

To be
Beech forest near Monitoring survey of trees, shrubs, andcontinu Juniko Aoike (50 x seedlings, survey on the amount ofed
50 m)
supply of litter and seeds

JunikoBeech
Monitoring

Forestry Basic Survey on Diversity
2007(Agency) of Forest Ecosystems
Comprehensive survey on
Shirakami-Sanchi
forest 1984 toForestry
management
operations 1985
1986
Report on study concerning
the establishment of amonitoring technique forpreservation of the forest
ecosystemofthe1998 to
MOE
Shirakami-Sanchi World
2002
Heritage Property, andforestmanagement
toensure harmonization with
forest use of the peripheralarea
On-site survey, etc. of themonitoring program on theimpact of climate change
Forestry2011
on the forest ecosystem of
the
World
Heritage
Property
Protected
forest 2010,
Forestry monitoring
survey 2011,
operations and assessment 2015

Once/5-1
0 years

Once/10years

0.1 ha grid points of Every tree survey, root cutting survey,
4 km mesh in Aomori fallentree
survey,understory
2012-2andAkita vegetation, soil erosion survey (Basic017
prefectures (circular, Survey
onDiversityofForestrectangular)
Ecosystems)
6 forest stands in
To beCalculation of the numbers of standing
Kasuge River basin,
determtrees and withered/damaged trees,
8 forest stands in
ined
beech forest stand volume per ha
Akaishi River basin

Once/5-1
0 years

Beech forest on thesouthern slope ofCompleEverytreesurvey,Futatsumori (beech
tedvegetation survey
forestinhighelevation area)

Once/5-1
0 years

To beArea near Juniko
Every
tree
survey,determ (beech forest in low
vegetation survey
inedelevation area)

Once/5years

To be
Shirakami-Sanchi
Protected forest monitoring: forest
continu forest
ecosystem surveys (every tree survey, vegetation
ed
protected
areas survey, fixed-point photo taking, flora

understory

understoryoperations(Aomori and Akita survey)
Prefectures)

Monitoring
surveyofvertically
distributed2012 toForestry vegetationin2013
Shirakami-Sanchi World
Heritage Property, etc.

Once/5-1
0 years

2018

Shirakamidake,
Takakuramori,
Futatsumori,KodakeSurvey by elevation (monitoring surveyof vertically distributed vegetation),maintenance of piles indicating plot
positions* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (3/9)
Monitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items

Implementing
organization*
Forestry

Survey name

Gatheringofphotographs, etc.

Surveyyear

aerial 2000 to2010

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years
Once/5years

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items
surve
y

To be
Entirecontinu Shirakami-Sanchied
area

Gathering of satellite images or aerial
photographs

To be
3,000 ha of thecontinu
Heritage Propertyed

Changes in wide-areavegetation and tree height

Once/10(2)
II A.
Changesin
Areawide
Highlyforestchanges inpristine1
physiognomy
beech
Forest forests
Forestry
forests are structu
maintaine reofd in a beech
healthy
forests,
condition etc.
(3) Genetic
Geneticoveradiversity
diversity andwide area.
and spatial
spatial genetic Hirosaki
genetic
structureof Univ.
structure of
beech
beech
populations
populations

years orSurvey on topographicalchangesin
2003,
Shirakami-Sanchi World
2011
Heritage
Property(reposted)upon
detecting alarge-scalelandavalanche

collapse or
otherchangeGenetic
structuresofvegetation
and
beech
2004 toforests seen in diverse
2005
topographical features of
Takakuramori

Complete Comple
TakakuramoridtedAnalysis of genetic diversity and spatial
genetic structure of beech populations

Forestry patrol by staff
From
Forestry members(Surveyon
2012
damaged trees)

Every
year

Airborne survey on forest Fromdamage by noxious insects 2011

Every
year

Airborne survey on forest Fromdamage by noxious insects 2012

Every
year

Damage from
Syntypistis
2(1) Forest punctatella
ImpactnoxiousandVenusiaoninsects and phasma,
beech
damageoccurrence offorests,
statusJapanese oak Aomori
etc.
wilt, pine wilt,
etc.

Akita

Identification of forest noxious insects
and weather-related damage on beech
forests and trees composing beech
Heritage
Property
To beforests, etc., such as Quercus crispulaandneighboring
continuand Pinus parviflora var. pentaphylla,areas of Heritageed
and integrated recording of locations ofProperty
damagedtrees,
descriptionofcountermeasures, and information on
occurrence of noxious insects
Forests along thecoast of Sea of Japan Conducting aerial survey of withered
To be
in
areas
from and dead trees, etc. by prefecturalcontinu
Ajigasawa-machi
disaster helicopters twice a year in Juneedthroughand September
Fukaura-machi
Forests along the
Identification of damage by forest
To becoast of Sea of Japannoxious insects such as Japanese oakcontinu in
areas
from
wilt and pine wilt by prefecturaled
Happo-cho throughdisaster helicopters
Noshiro City

* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (4/9)

List of MonitoringMonitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

II B.
The
diversity
of
flora
and
fauna in
1 Florathe beech
forest isadequatelypreserved.

(1) FloraSpecific survey
items

Implementing
organization*

Survey name

MOE

Shizukagoten
SurveyMOENaturalEnvironment
Preservation Basic Survey(Specific plant community
survey)Present
conditionofrare
plants,species
thatgrow close to
their
distribution
Aomorilimits,Satoyama
plants,invasiveplants, etc.

Aomori

Surveyyear

Vegetation 2002 to
2016

1978,
1988,
1997,
2011

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

Every 5
years

To be
continued

Once/10
years

To be
continued

Academic survey on the
Shirakami-Sanchi
2004,
Heritage
Property 2005
Peripheral Ecosystem, etc.

To beComplete
determdined

Survey on soil hardness
and erosion condition on 2009 tomountain
trailsof 2011
Shirakami-Sanchi

To beComplete
determdined

Survey for identification of
actualconditionsin 2001 to
Forestry
Shirakami-Sanchi World 2010
Heritage Property

Once/5-1
0 years

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items
surveyFrom 2002 to 2007, checking during
patrolintheoperationsof
Shizukagoten
Shirakami-Sanchi
Natural(Northern ridge line Environment Preservation Area naturalof
Mt. environment survey operations, etc.
Mukaishirakamidak From 2008 to 2010, vegetation surveye)by staff. In 2011, Shirakami-Sanchi
Natural Environment Preservation
Area flora survey operations
In 2011, conducted follow-up survey inSpecificplant
theShirakami-Sanchi
Naturalcommunities(23
Environment Preservation Area flora
locations)survey operations
Akaishi River area,
Takakuramori andAnmon-no-Taki area,
Okawa River area,
Oirase River andSazanai River area,
JunikoandOn-site survey on flora and rare plants
Shirakamidake area,
Mini-Shirakami
area, major flow
areasofShirakami-Sanchi,
mountainpeak,ridge lines
Nature observation
Survey on growing condition of invasive
road, Anmon-no-Takiplants (Plantaginaceae, etc.), survey on
trail and beech forest
escaped plants (cover degree, species
walking
trail,
name), interview survey on plants that
Tohoku nature trail,
have disappeared or decreased
Juniko trail

Scheduled routes for
To beactualconditions Recording of rare plants and invasive
determ identification survey plants (Satoyama vegetation) usingined(established trails, GPS, interview survey
designated routes

, related routes)
Monitoring program on theimpact of climate change
2010 toForestry on the forest ecosystem of
2012
the
World
Heritage
Property
Present
NaturalEnvironment 1981,(2) Existing
conditionof MOE
Preservation Basic Survey 1985,
vegetation
vegetation(Vegetation survey)
2012
Survey on phenology ofbeech forests in the From
MOE
Shirakami-Sanchi World 2009
Phenology
of
Heritage Property(3)
budding,
Phenology
fruition,
Surveyon
long-termofbeech coloringofchanges in virgin beech
forestleaves, fallen
forestinthe From
Forestryleaves, etc.
Shirakami-Sanchi World 2013
Heritage
Property(reposted)

To bedetermined

To beArea near the peak Pinus pumila communities (identifying
continu ofMt.
Kodake distribution of Pinus pumila by aerial
ed(several locations)photographs)

Once/10
years

To be
EntiredetermProperty
ined

Every
year

To be
Ridge area of Mt. Phenology survey of beech trees, etc.
continu
Kushiishi(with stationary camera)
ed

Every
year

Yanadaki-no-Sawa
To be
Phenology survey of beech trees, etc.
testing site, Kasuge
continu(added to the objectives of survey byRiver source areaed
year-round camera)
testing site

Heritage Vegetation survey, drawing existing
vegetation map* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (5/9)
Monitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

II B.
The
diversity
of
flora
and
2
fauna inFauna
the beech
forest isadequatelypreserved(1) Fauna

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items

Implementing
organization*

Changesinlivingconditionsofunique species
andspecies
approaching
MOE
distribution
limitsofmammals,
birds, reptiles,
amphibians,

Survey name

Surveyyear

Report on study concerning
the establishment of amonitoring technique forpreservation of the forest
ecosystemofthe1998 toShirakami-Sanchi World
2002
Heritage Property, andforestmanagement
toensure harmonization with
forest use of the peripheralarea (reposted)

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items

MiddlepartofSurvey on medium and large-sized
To besouthern slope of Mt.
Completemammals, small mammals, birds,
determ Kushiishi, northerndreptiles and amphibians, insects, andinedfoot of Futatsumori
soil animals(Tomari-no-Tai)

surve
y

.

insects and fish

Survey for identification of
actualconditionsin 2001,
Forestry Shirakami-Sanchi World 2009,
Heritage
Property 2010
(reposted)
Akita

2002 to2005

Protected
forestmonitoring
survey 2010,
Forestry
operations and assessment 2011
operations (reposted)

Scheduled routes for
actualconditions
To be
Survey on medium and large-sized
Once/5-1
identification survey
determmammals, survey on birds (recording of
0 years(established trails,
inedidentified locations)designatedroutes,related routes)
To beComplete
determ Mase River, etc.
Fish (Salvelinus leucomaenis) Surveydined
Shirakami-Sanchi
To beforestecosystem
Once/5
Protected forest monitoring: faunacontinu protected
areas
years
survey (mammals, insects)
ed(Aomori and Akita
Prefectures)

MOE

2009
(Tengudake) 2006,
Monitoring Sites 1000 2011
Once/5(terrestrial birds survey)(Juniko) years
2007,
2012
(Dakedai)To beTengudake,
continu
Dakedaied

MOE

Survey on medium andFromlarge-sized mammals in2013
Shirakami-Sanchi

Every
year

Heritage
Property
To be
Stationary
camerasurveyforand its surrounding
continu
identification of medium and large-sizedarea(around26
edmammals
points)Surveillancecamerasurvey of Cervus nippon
aroundthe
Shirakami-Sanchi World
Heritage Property (Aomori
From
Forestry Prefecture side), sensor
2014
camera survey in the
Shirakami-Sanchi World
Heritage Property and its
surrounding area (Akita
Prefecture side)

Every
year

To be
Stationary
camerasurveyfor
Surroundingarea
continu
identification of medium and large-sized(around 52 points)
edmammals

Juniko,Birds fixed-point survey* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (6/9)
Monitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items

Implementing
organiza
tion*

MOE

II B.
The
diversity
of
flora
and
fauna in 2
the beech Fauna
forest isadequatelypreserved.

Changesin
Forestryliving(2) Living
conditionsofconditions
DryocopusofMOEmartius, Aquila
endangeredchrysaetos andspeciesNisaetus
nipalensis

Survey name

Shirakami-Sanchi Natural
Environment Preservation
1998 toArea Dryocopus martius
2002,
livingconditions
2014
information
surveyoperations

Survey on living conditions
1996,
ofDryocopus
martius
2008
around Shirakami-Sanchi
Patrol by National Wildlife From
Protection Area rangers
2006

1990 to
2006

Dam

MOE

Surveyyear

Shirakami-Sanchi
chrysaetos
conditions
operations

Aquilaliving 2013,
survey 2016

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

To be
determined

To becontinued

To beComplete
determ
d
ined
To be
Every
continuyear
edComplete Unknodwn

Once/3years

To becontinued

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items
surveyMiddlepartofsouthern slope of Mt.
Kushiishi,
entireHeritage
Property
Confirmation of living conditions ofand its surrounding
Dryocopus martius (interview survey),
area (each flow area
on-site surveyof Sazanai, Oirase,
Akaishi, Nakamura,and Anmon rivers,
etc.)
Heritage
Property
Confirmation of living conditions ofand its surrounding
Dryocopus martius
area
Heritage
Property
Gathering of information by National
and its surrounding
Wildlife Protection Area rangers, etc.
area
Tsugaru
Damcatchment area andits surrounding area
(Anmon River basin), Tsugaru Dam Assessment Survey
entireHeritage
Property and its
surrounding area
Survey on living conditions and5locationson reproductive rate of birds of prey, such
Aomoriside,
4 as Aquila chrysaetos and Nisaetus
locations on Akita nipalensis(survey
continuouslysideconducted every year since 1997 by
Aomori Golden Eagle Survey Team)* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (7/9)
Monitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

II B.
The
diversity
of
flora
and
fauna in 2
the beech Fauna
forest isadequatelypreserved.

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items

Implementing
organization*

Surveyyear

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

Aomori

From
2005

Every
year

Akita

From
2009

Every
year

Survey name

Survey on medium andlarge-sized mammals in From
MOE(3) Invasive Habitatsof
Shirakami-Sanchi
2013
animals
Cervus nippon(reposted)
Surveillancecamerasurvey of Cervus nippon
aroundthe
Shirakami-Sanchi World From
Forestry
Heritage Property (Aomori 2014
Prefecture side), sensor
camera survey in the
Shirakami-Sanchi World

Priority
Survey locations

To becontinu Surrounding areaed
To becontinu Surrounding areaed

Survey items
surveyGathering information

Gathering information

Every
year

To be
Heritage
Property, Fixed-point
continusurrounding area
cameras
ed

Every
year

To be
continu Surrounding areaed

Fixed-point
camerassurveywithautomatic

surveywithautomatic

Heritage Property and its
surrounding area (Akita
Prefecture side) (reposted)

Aomori

Cervus nippon monitoring
From
automatic
camera2015
installation program

Every
year

To be
continu Surrounding areaed

OthersInstallation of automatic 2017 tocameras
2020

Once

Since
2017

Surrounding area

OthersEyewitness
information Fromgathering using ICT
2017

To be
determin
ed

Since
2017

Surrounding area

OthersFeces collection survey and 2017 toanalysis
2020

To be
determin
ed

Since
2017

Surrounding area

MOE

Cervus nippon handling From
operations
2015

Every
year

MOE

Cervusnipponfeces From
identification survey
2016

Every
year

Occurrence(4) Impact status
of Aomori,on animals infectious
Akita
diseasesSoil
fungussuchas(1) Survey
symbiotic/wood Otherson-destroying
3 Fungi
distribution
fungi
of fungi
Condition
of
Akita
soil
fungus,As
Everynecessary year

To becontinu Surrounding areaed
To becontinu Surrounding areaed
To becontinu Surrounding areaed

Fixed-point
camerassurveywithautomatic

Fixed-point survey with automatic
cameras Project commissioned by
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Research
Council
Conducted
byForestry and Forest Products ResearchInstitute
Gathering of eyewitness information
using various mobile phone terminals
Project commissioned by Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries ResearchCouncil Conducted by Forestry andForest Products Research InstituteCollecting feces to identify spices andsex from DNA Project commissioned by
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Research
Council
Conducted
byForestry and Forest Products ResearchInstituteLight census
Collecting feces to identify spices fromDNA
Collecting information on infection andspread of infectious diseases to wildlifein surrounding area

None

To be
Along
major
Gathering information on soil fungus
determ Shirakami-Sanchi
such as symbiotic/wood-destroying fungi
inedroutesNone

To be
Kasuge River source Collection and storage of yeast,
determ area,lactobacillus, actinomycete, and otheryeast,lactobacillus,
actinomycete,
etc.

ined

Shirakami-Sanchi
foothills area

fungi

* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (8/9)
Monitoring
objectives

Monitoring items

III.
The OUVismanagedproperly,
takingintoaccountchangesin socialcondition 1sUsagesurroundi environng
the ment
Property,sothat
the valueatthetime of its
inscriptio
n on theWorld
Heritage
List
is

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items(1) Number Numberof visitors
visitors

Implementing
organization*

Survey name

Surveyyear

Survey on the number ofvisitors
to
From
MOE
Shirakami-Sanchi World
2004
Heritage Property andsurrounding areaof
Surveyon
long-termchanges in virgin beech
forestinthe From
Forestry
Shirakami-Sanchi World 2010
Heritage
Property(reposted)(2) Present
Present status
statusofof use of major
use of major
trailstrailsAomori

Survey on soil hardness
and erosion condition on 2009 tomountain
trailsof 2011
Shirakami-Sanchi

Protected
forestmonitoring
survey 2010,
Forestry
operations and assessment 2011
operations (reposted)(3)
User Conditionofmanners
guideposts,
All
tape,
paint,

Joint patrol

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items
surve
y

Every
year

9
locationson
To be
Aomoriside,
4 Setting visitor counters at the entrance
continu
locations on Akita of walking trails
ed
side

Every
year

To be
12
locationscontinu
Aomori sideed

Once/5years

Once/5-1
0 years
Everyyear

on Installing automatic cameras
identifying from images

andNature observationroad, Anmon-no-Taki
To betrail and beech forest
determSurvey on status of use of trails
walking
trail,
ined
Tohoku nature trail,
Juniko trail
Shirakami-Sanchi
Protected
forestmonitoring:
use
To be
forestecosystem dynamics survey (survey on the number
continu
protected
areas of users, user actual conditions survey,ed(Shirakamidake)taking fixed-point photographs)
To be
EntireWorldcontinu
Heritage Propertyednotadversely
affected
by
human
use
or
activitiest,andbenefits
regional
developm
ent.

remaininggraffiti, etc.

MOE,
Forestry, Patrollingbypatrol From
Aomori, officers, staff members, etc. 1992
Akita
Survey for identification of
actualconditionsin 2001,
Forestry Shirakami-Sanchi World 2009,
Heritage
Property 2010
(reposted)

Every
year

Patrolling by GSS, patrol officers of
To be
EntireWorld MOE, patrol officers commissioned bycontinu
Heritage Property
the Prefecture, patrolling by staff
edmembers

Once/5-1
0 years

Scheduled routes for
actualconditions
To be
Patrolling by staff members, etc.
identification survey
determ(installing road signs, identifying the(established trails,
inedstatus of remaining items left, etc.)
designatedroutes,related routes)* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki University

Attached Table 2
Survey Items (9/9)
Monitoring
objectives
III.
The OUV
is managed
properly,
taking into
accountchanges insocialconditions

Monitoring items

2
Contrib
ution toregionaldevelopment

List of Monitoring
Specific survey
items

Implementing
organization*(1) Number
Numberofof users ofusers
of Aomori,facilities atfacilities
at Akita,
conservatio
conservation
municipnandand utilization alities
utilizationsites, etc.
sites, etc.

Survey name

Surveyyear

Surveyonpresent
From
condition of conservation
2003
and utilization sites

SubseqSurveyuent
frequency
years

Every
year

Priority
Survey locations

Survey items

Akaishi River area,
Takakuramori andAnmon-no-Taki area,
To be
Okawa River area,
continu
Statistics of tourist visitors
Oirase River anded
Sazanai River area,
Junikoand
Shirakamidake area,

surve
y

surroundingtheProperty,so that thevalue
atthe time ofitsinscription
on
the
World
Heritage
List is notadversely
affected byhuman useor
activities,
andbenefits
regional
developme
nt.

Mini-Shirakami area

(2)
Environmen
tal
educationandawarenessraising

MOE
Statusofenvironmental
education andMOEawarenessraising using
World Natural
Heritage
MOE

Others3 Social
environ
Total
ment(1) Status of population,
surroulocal areas population bynding
industry
heritag
Otherse

Shirakami-Sanchi
1999 toChildren Park Ranger
2016
Project
Nishimeya
Elementary From
School integrated study
2008

Shirakami-Sanchi
conditions survey

National census

usage From2016

1920 to2010

Identification
andexaminationofactual To be
conditions regarding daily determin
utilization by regional ed
residents

World
HeritageComplete Comple Property and its
dted
surrounding
municipalities
To be
Every
continu Nishimeya-murayear
edOnce/5-1
0 years

Nature experience camp, etc. in the
Shirakami-Sanchi surrounding area forchildren in the 3rd grade in elementary
school to 3rd grade in junior high school
Environmental education regarding
Shirakami-Sanchi at local elementary
schools
Targeting relevant organizations in
World
HeritageTo besurrounding
municipalities,
etc.,
Property and its
continu
identifying the number of guides
surroundinged
working in Shirakami-Sanchi andmunicipalities
status of learning at schools

Once/5years

2020

Municipalities

Analysis of regional population anddepopulation, identification of actual
conditions of workers by industry,
mainly primary industry

To bedetermined

World
Heritage
To be
Property and its
determsurroundinginedmunicipalities

Examining the method of identifying
present conditions regarding daily
utilization, such as use of mountainvegetables and hunting, as well as theimplementing
bodies(museums,
schools, etc.)* Implementing organizations → MOE: Ministry of the Environment, Forestry: Forestry Agency (Tohoku Regional Forest Office), Aomori: Aomori Prefecture, Akita:
Akita Prefecture, Survey Committee: Beech Forest Monitoring Survey Committee, Hirosaki Univ.: Hirosaki UniversityReference

Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage
Property
January 31, 2011
To be submitted to the World Heritage Committeea. Overview

Situated in the mountains at an altitude of 200 to 1,250 m above sea level and along
the Sea of Japan in northern Honshu, Shirakami-Sanchi is a wilderness area with thelargest remaining virgin beech forest in East Asia. The World Heritage Property
contains the remnant of the cool-temperate beech forests that covered the hills andmountain slopes of northern Japan some eight to twelve thousand years ago.
Beech forests currently distributed across Europe, East Asia and North America arethought to have originated from circumpolar vegetation prior to the last glacial period.
As the beech forests shifted their distribution from the circumpolar region to the southin the last glacial period, the southward shift was blocked by mountainous areas
stretching east to west, resulting in simplified vegetation represented by many of thecurrent beech forests. On the other hand, the beech forests in the Shirakami-Sanchi
contain many elements of Tertiary Peri-Arctic flora, since vegetation originating in thecircumpolar region, including beech, which retreated to southern Japan during theglacial period without being blocked in its southern migration, has re-expanded its
distribution since the late glacial period.
Reflecting the distinct heavy-snow environment of the inland areas along the Sea ofJapan, a rare climatic condition in the world, Shirakami-Sanchi has forests ofmonodominant Fagus crenata, a species endemic to Japan. A unique plant community
with diverse flora, including undergrowth dominated by evergreen Sasa kurilensis has
been formed.
Shirakami-Sanchi is also a habitat for rare bird species such as the black
woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), and large mammals such as the Japanese serow(Capricornis crispus) and Japanese black bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus), which
requires a diverse forest environment including old-growth forest. These and otherspecies are all interacting as functional elements of the ecosystem of the climax beech
forest.
b. Attestation of satisfying the selection criteria

Criterion (ix) (Ecosystem)
Shirakami-Sanchi is a virtually undisturbed, pristine climax forest dominated by
Fagus that escaped simplification of vegetation during the earths’ glacial stages byshifting its distribution towards the south. Its extent is the largest in East Asia, one of

the distributional ranges where Fagus is dominant in the cool-temperate forests of thenorthern hemisphere. Its forest ecosystem reflects the history of global climatechanges and the heavy-snow environment, and is an outstanding example of ongoingprocesses in the development and succession of communities of plants together withthe animals that depend on them.
Shirakami-Sanchi is thus very important for studies on terrestrial cool-temperate
ecology, particularly on Eurasian beech forest ecosystem processes, and for long-termmonitoring of climate and vegetation changes.
c. Integrity

The Property contains a large pristine, non-fragmented beech forest. Many ofJapan's beech forests were replaced in the past by planted forests, such as of cedar
plantations. However, the topography of the Property is generally steep and this haspreserved a pristine environment that has been virtually unaffected by humanactivities. The Property includes all the elements necessary to maintain the ecosystem
function of the beech forest. The Property has an area of 16,971 ha, which is of anadequate size to ensure the long-term existence of the beech forest ecosystem.
e. Protection and management requirements

The entire expanse of the Property consists of national forests owned and managed
by the national government. The Property is designated by law as Shirakami-Sanchi
Nature Conservation Area, Tsugaru Quasi-National Park and other National Parks,
Shirakami-Sanchi National Wildlife Protection Area and Shirakami-Sanchi Forest
Ecosystem Reserve. The laws and systems to grant these statuses are designed topreserve Japan’s outstanding natural environment and impose strict legal regulations
on development and other activities. In addition, to provide legal protection, theJapanese serow is designated as a Special Natural Monument, while the golden eagle,
mountain hawk-eagle and black woodpecker are designated as National Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and/or Natural Monuments. The Ministry of theEnvironment, the Forestry Agency and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, which enforce
the respective systems, jointly formulated the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage
Property Management Plan. In line with the plan, the Property is managed in an
integrated manner so as to facilitate smooth management of these areas and species,
which have been designated for protection by different levels of governments. Local
offices of the competent ministries and relevant local governments have established
the Regional Liaison Committee for Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property topromote conservation management of the Property through coordination andcollaboration with the local community. They have also established the ScientificCommittee for Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property, comprised of academic
experts, to promote the adaptive conservation management of the Property.
Based on the conservation status survey by IUCN (1997), new member
organizations joined the Regional Liaison Committee. Currently, municipalities arealso involved in discussions and are playing a role in the management of the Property,
including information dissemination, awareness raising, user guidance, and facility
maintenance.

Reference 2Charter of the Scientific Committee for Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage
Property(Purpose)
Article 1

The Scientific Committee for Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property

comprised of academic experts shall be established with the aim ofunderstanding

thenaturalenvironment

of

the

Shirakami

Mountains(Shirakami-Sanchi), which are inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List,
and to give necessary advice to the Regional Liaison Committee for ShirakamiSanchi World Heritage Property on adaptive management based on scientificdata.
(Issues to be considered)
Article 2 The Scientific Committee shall consider the following issues as necessary.
(1) Issues relating to conservation management of the Shirakami-Sanchi World
Heritage Property(2) Issues relating to survey, research and monitoring for (1) above(3) Other issues necessary to achieve the purpose(Membership)
Article 3 The Scientific Committee shall consist of the following members, secretariat
and observers.
(1) Members
Academic experts(2) Secretariat
Administrative bodies stipulated in Article 6(3) Observers
Any other person involved in conservation management(Members)
Article 4
1 Members of the Scientific Committee shall be appointed by the head of thedirectorate of the secretariat from among the academic experts.
2 The term of office of the committee members shall be three years. However,reappointment shall not be precluded.
3 In the case of replacement or increase in the number of committee members,
the term of office shall be the same as the remaining term of office of the othercommittee members.
(Operation)

Article 5
1 The Chair of the Committee shall convene and conduct the proceedings.
2 The Vice-Chair shall assist the Chair in the proceedings.
3 The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be elected by the committee members fromamong themselves.
4 The Chair may request academic experts other than committee members toattend committee meetings as necessary.
5 The Committee may establish subcommittees or working groups under theCommittee to further its consideration of important issues.
6 Meetings of the Committee shall, in principle, be open to the public, but may
be closed to the public at the discretion of the Chair.
(Secretariat)
Article 6 The secretariat of the Committee shall be comprised of the Tohoku Regional
Environmental Office of the Ministry of the Environment, the Tohoku Regional
Forest Office of the Forestry Agency, the Aomori Office of the Forestry Agency
Tohoku Regional Forest Office, Aomori Prefecture, Akita Prefecture, the Aomori
Prefectural Board of Education, and the Akita Prefectural Board of Education.
Directors of the secretariat shall rotate between the Tohoku Regional
Environmental Office of the Ministry of the Environment and the Tohoku
Regional Forest Office of the Forestry Agency.
(Others)
Article 7
1.

The Committee shall provide advice to the Regional Liaison Committee for

Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property to facilitate the proper managementof the World Heritage Property.
2.

Issues not specified above and necessary for the Committee’s operation shallbe set forth separately.
(Supplementary provisions)
1 This charter shall take effect on June 1, 2010.
2 Revised on December 13, 2010.

Reference 3

Evaluation Results of Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property Monitoring Survey(1/3)
Monitoring items

Monitori

Specific

ng

Major

Minor

surveyobjectiveclassificclassificatio

items

s

ation

n

1

Meteorolo
gical
information in theWorld(1)
Heritage
Met
Property
eorol
and
ogic
surroundial
ng area
cond
ition
s
Forest(2) micromete
orology

The basic
environm
ental
conditionsformeteorolo
gical,hydrologic
al

2

and

terrestrial

Hyd
Water
rolog
qualityical
and flow
(1)
cond
rate
of
ition
major
s
riversRisks/precursory
phenomena that could
undermine the value of

Evaluation

the natural heritage[Evaluation criteria]

Atmospherictemperature,
precipitation
amount,amount
of
snow,
wind
direction/velocity, humidity,
amountofsolarradiation, etc.
Atmospherictemperature,groundtemperature,
foresthumidity,
maximumsnow depth
Water quality(pH, turbidity,
nutritive salts,
chemical
substances,etc.), flow rate

Meteorological conditions

・ At present, there has notchange to a degree that may

been abnormal weather thatthreaten the ecosystem, etc. of

may threaten the ecosystem of

Shirakami-Sanchi, due to a

Shirakami-Sanchi and thus

rise of atmosphericno figures that significantly

temperature, frequent

exceedoccurrence of heavy rain andvalues have been reported.

strong wind, a decrease in the

Therefore, there is no issue.

average-year

amount of snow, etc.

[Therehave

reports

been

no

of

figuressignificantly

exceedingaverage-year values due
toabnormalweather,

etc.]
Hydrologicalconditions

・ At present, there have beenchange to a degree thatno reports on changes in

may threaten the riverhydrological conditions that

ecosystem

mayofShirakami-Sanchi,tochangesinduethreaten

the

river

ecosystem

water

of

Shirakami-Sanchi

quality and flow rate.

due

to

changes in water quality andflow rate. So, there is no

phenomenatheproblem.

thatsustain(1)
Topograph(1)
ical
featuresthe beech
forest are
identified.

3

Geol
ogic
al
cond
ition
s,
etc.

Identificat
ionofgroundsurfacecoverage(2) andunusualtopographicalfeatures ofentire area

Broad-area
topographicalmap, and thestatusofchangesincollapsed land
Present
conditionofforest,shrublandgrassland,collapsed land,developmentareas (roads,dams), etc.

Geographical conditions, etc.

Among

・

large-scalelandchange to a degree that may

collapse and landslide cases,

threaten

of

no

to

disturbance that may affecttheecosystem

Shirakami-Sanchi,
occurrence

due

of

land

collapse/landslide, decrease inavalanche vegetation areas,changes in alpine vegetation
area/wetland area, etc.

[Among large-scale landcollapseandlandslidecases,

nosignificant

natural disturbance that
may affect the ecosystem
has been reported.]thesignificant
ecosystem

naturalhas

beenreported over the past five
years. So, there is no problem.
・ Identification of avalanche
vegetation
topographicalattributedtofeaturesof

Shirakami-Sanchi

isinsufficientbecauselaser

observationandaerialphotography have not been
conducted since 2011.
・ Although changes in alpine
vegetation have been pointed
out, they are not considered toberelatedtoterrestrial

conditions, etc.

(1)
4

1
II

A.

Highlypristine
beech
forestsaremaintainedinahealthy
condition
over

a

Othe
rs

Radiation
level

Monitoring・

observation

posts

Shirakami-Sanchi
particularly

at

sites

near

show

high

no

values.

Therefore, there is no issue
regarding radiation levels.
Agricultur(2) alchemicals

Status of useof agriculturalchemicals
Significant change is observed

・ At present, no significant

in the status of growth of beechchanges with respect to forest

forest, renewal conditions ofstructure have been observed.

Identificat
ionof(1) changes inforests atfixed sites

Changes
inindividual
beech growth,hierarchicalstructure,understory
vegetation,
production
amount (netproduction,
seed
production,etc.)

beech forest, beech distribution

It is therefore considered that

Changesinforestphysiognomy
and vegetation

[No

Fore
st
stru
ctur
e of
beec
Areawideh(2) changes infores
foreststs,
etc.
Genetic
diversityandspatial(3) genetic
structureof
beech
populationswide area.

2

Statusofradioactive
substances

Imp
act
Forestonnoxiousbeec
insects
(1)
h
and
fores
damagets,
statusetc.

Genetic
diversity andspatial genetic
structureof
beech
populations

Damage from
Syntypistis
punctatella
and Venusia
phasma,occurrence ofJapanese oakwilt, pine wilt,
etc.

・

No agricultural chemicals
are used in Shirakami-Sanchi.
Therefore, there is no issue.

areas, hierarchical structure,
number of beech trees growing(difference

betweenthenumber of withered trees andthe number of promoted trees),

highly pristine beech forests
aremaintained.

However,

there

are

pointssomeofconcern, such as fewer good
harvestyears

recently.

production, seed production,

Furthermonitoring

surveyetc.).

should be conducted.

and production volume (netcontinuousandsignificant change has
beenreportedwithregard to growth of beech
trees in the marginal
part

of

the

beech

distribution area.]A

substantial

decreasein・ At present, no rapid negative

major trees constituting beech

impactofforests is observed due tonoxiousinsects

occurrence/expansion

identified. However, damageofdamage from noxious insects
and meteorological damage.

[There

has

been

no

significant damage fromnoxious insects in thesurrounding area, and nodamagehas

been

discovered

in

areas

where host tree species
are densely growing.]

fromdamagegeometrid

has
and

from
been
other

pests occurred in beech forests
while oak wilt and pine wilt
occurred in peripheral forest
lands. Continuous attention
needs to be paid.

Evaluation Results of Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property Monitoring Survey(2/3)
Monitoring items

Monitori
ng

Major

Minor

surveyobjectiveclassificclassificatio

items

s

ation

n

(1) Flora

1

Flor
a
(2)

Existing
vegetation

Phenology
beech(3) offorest
II B. Theflora

and faunainthe(1) Fauna

beech
forestphenomena that could
undermine the value of

Evaluation

the natural heritage[Evaluation criteria]

Present
conditionofvegetation,
rare
plants,species
thatgrow close to
their
distribution
limits,Satoyama
plants,invasiveplants, etc.
Present
conditionofvegetation
Phenology ofbudding,
fruition,coloringofleaves, fallen
leaves, etc.

Significant
changesareconfirmed
in
the
plant
distribution area, such as
disappearance of rare plants,
entry and settlement ofinvasive species associatedwith utilization, as well as theregular appearance of suchphenomena.

・ Decrease in rare plants has[Invasive plants have nothas been observed.

Changesinlivingconditions of
unique species
of mammals,
birds, reptiles,
amphibians,
insects
andfish
Changesinlivingconditions of
Dryocopus
martius,
Aquilachrysaetos andNisaetus
nipalensis

Irrecoverable changes areobserved in keystone species
and umbrella species (decreasein the populations of Ursus
thibetanus and Capricornis
crispus, animals representing
the beech forest of the relevantarea, decrease in population
and reproductive rate of rarebirds (in particular, Aquila
chrysaetos,
Dryocopus
martius,Histrionicus
historionicus, among others)).

not been reported.
・ At present, entry of invasive
species has been observed
along

the

mountainentry

route. However, no significant
impact on existing vegetation

settled in the growing
area

of

existing

vegetation.]Thephenology

significantly

has・ At present, no significant

changedchanges have been observed

due to climate change
withcontinuous

appearanceofin phenology.

severalphenomena.

diversityof

Risks/precursory

Specific

isadequatelypreserved.

2

Fau
na
Livingconditions(2) ofendangered species

Although・nosignificant

change is seen in the numberof large mammals, intrusionof Cervus nippon is a concern.
・ As for birds, the reproduction
rate of Aquila chrysaetos has
declined.

However,thereproduction rate of Aquila

chrysaetos has been declining
not only in Shirakami-Sanchi.

[No significant change has

It seems to be a tendency

beenacrossobserved in

population
mammals.

of

the

the

entireTohokularge

Region or across Japan. Since

The

the

present

conditionofreproductive rate of birds

Dryocopus martius has notof prey has not declined

been fully understood, further

continuously.]monitoring

surveyofthereproductive status should be
conducted.
・ Distribution of Sus scrofa
has been expanding in the
Tohoku Region. Further study
on

their

livingconditions

should be conducted.
(3) Invasive

HabitatsofDeterioration

and・ Eyewitness reports of Cervus

animals

Cervus nippon

simplification of vegetation are
observedassociatedwithinvasion of Cervus nippon into
the Heritage Property.
[There have been no reports on
living and settlement ofCervusnipponinmunicipalities around the
Heritage Property.]nippon have been increasingin the municipalities aroundthe

Heritage

Femaleshave

Property.
also

been

witnessed, indicating a sign ofpartialsettlement.

Eyewitness cases have beenreported within the Heritage
Property

but

no

trace

of

settlement has been found.
However, eyewitness reports
have been steadily increasingover the past several years, so
attention is required.
・ Thus, since the possibility ofsettlement of Cervus nippon
in the Heritage Property isrising, specific actions shouldbeurgently

preparation

taken
for

in
their

settlement and reproduction.
Impact on(4)animals3

Fungi

Survey on(1) distributio
n of fungi

Occurrence
statusofinfectious
diseases
Condition of
soil
fungus,yeast,
lactobacillus,
actinomycete,etc.

・ At present, there have beennoreportsofimpactonanimals.
Irreversible
changesareobserved in the environment,such as changes in thecomposition of soil fungus due
to acid precipitation andchanges in the composition of
specific fungi due to climatechange.

・ At present, there have beennoreportsonirreversible

changes in the environment,
such

as

changesinthecomposition of soil fungus due
to

acid

changes

precipitation
incompositionandofspecific fungi due to climatechange.

Evaluation Results of Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Property Monitoring Survey(3/3)
Monitoring items

Monitori
ng

Major

Minor

surveyobjectiveclassificclassificatio

items

s

ation

n
(1)

Present
status of(2) useof
major
trailsThe OUVismanagedproperly,
taking1

intoaccountchangesin

Number ofvisitors

Usa
ge
envi
ron
men
t
(3)

socialUsermanners

conditions
surrounding

Risks/precursory

Specificphenomena that could
undermine the value of

Evaluation

the natural heritage[Evaluation criteria]

NumbervisitorsofPresent status
of use of major
trailsSignificant alterations of the・ A rapid increase has notecosystems by humans andbeen observed in malicious

declineinillegalpreservation

awarenessheritageareobserved, such as expansion ofno significant alterations byof river water, and frequent

humans, such as expansion of

occurrence of various illegal

mountainacts (damaging trees, collecting

trails,contamination of river water,

plants, fishing in mountainstreams, making fires).

and frequent occurrence of[No malicious illegal acts orvariousviolation of manners, and nooccurring. Careful attention

rapid increase in the number

should be paid to fishing,of users have been reported.]

which is likely to have a direct

illegalleavingsomountain trails.

thatthe valuethetime of its
inscriptio
n on theWorld
Heritageadversely2

affectedby humanuse

areas well as to making fires andtheList is notacts,

impact on fish in the streams,

Property,atofusers. It can be assessed thatmountain trails, contamination
Condition ofguideposts,
tape,paint,
remaininggraffiti,etc.,
statusofenvironmental
education andawarenessraising

acts/violationmanners or the number ofor

Number ofusersoffacilities at(1) conservati
onandutilizationContsites, etc.
ribut
ion
to
regio
nal
Environm
deve
ental
lopm
education
(2)
ent
and

Numberofusersoffacilities
atconservation
and utilizationsites, etc.
Statusofenvironmental
education andawarenessraising using
World Natural
Heritage

awarenessraising

activities,
and

trash

along

Facilities at conservation

・ The

and utilization sites areresidents is indispensable fornotutilizedandinvolvement

of

the
local

no

ensuring the sustainability of

initiatives to raise thethe Heritage Property while

heritage value, such as

keeping in mind the positiontheraisingof Shirakami-Sanchi for local

been

residents. It is necessary toawareness

activities,

have

implemented.

consider its utilization as an[Decreasing trends have noteducational

been seen in the number ofconnection with local human

users

at

resources development in theconservation and utilization

fields of nature, history andsites,

offacilities

thenumberawareness-raisingofresource

inculture.

activities

related to heritage value, andbenefits

the number of environmental

regional

education activities]

developm
ent.

3

Soci
al
envi
ron
men
Status of(1)tlocal areas
surr
ound
ing
the

Total
population,
depopulation,
population byindustry

There is a risk of thedisappearance

of

folk

・

The currently set survey
items

are

for

generalknowledge, such as use

statistical data. It is difficultof mountain vegetables

to judge from the figures ofand hunting.

this data whether there is arisk of disappearance of folk
knowledge, such as use of
mountainhunting.

vegetables

and

Heri
tage
Prop
erty

・ Although not directly related
to

the

value

withinHeritage

Property,

desirable

tocomplementary

the

it

is

providea

explanationon the actual status of use by
local

residents

in

areas

around the Heritage Property
and its historical changes.