2021 TOP 100 GOOD
PRACTICE STORY
Title of the Story:
Environmental cultural type National Park (Singing Island).
Destination Name: (include any state, province or region)

Amami Oshima
Country:Japan
Submitter name:Sakaida seiichiro
Email address:

info@amami-tourism.org
Position:

Amami Oshima Tourism and Product Association, Secretary General
Nomination Category: (Please check the boxes that indicate the focus of your story)
Please find detailed information for the categories below in the Top 100 training module ‘Good
Practice Story’.
☐ Localizing the destination supply chain☐ Decarbonizing the destination supply chain☐ Culture & Communities☐ Environment & Climate☒ Nature & Ecotourism☐ Tourism Reset & Recovery

Find detailed instructions for submitting good practices in the Top 100 training module“Good Practice Story”.
Should you have any questions on your submission please refer to our FAQ page orcontact top100@greendestinations.org

DESCRIBE YOUR GOOD PRACTICE STORY
Address each aspect of your good practice story in the different sections being specific including relevant quantitativeand qualitative information.

Issues faced
The Amami Islands has its own unique natural environment, including subtropical laurel forests where
many endemic species live and grow, beautiful coastal sceneries, and coral reefs, as well as uniquecharacteristics such as lifestyles, traditional culture, longevity, and a natural environment conducive tofertility.
In recent years, the value of its natural environment has been attracting attention, and efforts areunderway to designate it as a national park (March 2017) and register it as a World Natural Heritagesite (IUCN recommendation in May 2021).
However, in Amami Oshima Island, the number of visitors continued to increase from about 394,000
visitors in 2014 to reach 530,000 in 2019.
In the forest area, eco-tours are increasing, with trekking, bird watching and night tours common inAmami City's Kinsakubaru Forest and Uken Village/Yamato Village's Mt. Yuwan-dake.
Methods, steps and tools applied
The Wide Area Administration Association of Amami Islands implemented the "Regional Development
Project Utilizing Environmental Culture" from FY 2014 to FY 2018, and produced a textbook on
environmental culture and settlement's stories "Things to Leave Behind and Pass on in the Amami
Islands: Treasures of 12 Settlements" to be Used for Promoting Ecotourism”.
The "Overall Concept" was created by the Amami Islands Ecotourism Promotion Council in February
2017 based on the following:1) To preserve and revitalize the diverse and unique nature of the Amami Islands and the local culturethat has been closely connected with nature; 2) Provide a high-quality experience for visitors byrefining the individuality of each island.
In addition, eight basic policies have been established for the purpose of creating a system that
contributes to sustainable regional development in the Amami islands as whole.
1：Promotion of community-led ecotourism
We tried to minimize the negative aspects (such as the impact on the natural environment) associatedwith the implementation of ecotourism by designing ecotourism by the local communities themselves,
such as how to utilize local nature and what effect it will have on the community.
2: Reconceptualization and sharing of local resourcesBy sharing the extracted resources widely in the community and clarifying the conservation andutilization policies, we have been able to control development activities and avoid the situation where
the resources are lost without being noticed.
3，Creating rules for appropriate useVoluntary rules are "rules that continue to evolve" and will be reviewed flexibly in accordance with thestate and use of resources, and set into enforceable rules when situations arise that make it difficult topreserve the natural environment and local culture.
4，Establishment of a unique tourism style in the Amami Islands and improvement of quality of guides
Eco-tourism in forests and villages will attract attention in the future as an experiential activity uniqueto the Amami Islands, making it necessary to increase the satisfaction of users by providing high-quality
nature experiences under appropriate safety management.
Since the quality of guides is very important for this purpose, we have introduced a registration andcertification system to promote efforts to support the improvement of guide skills and to ensure thequality of guides.
５，Promote tourism as a comprehensive industry in the region
For tourists, not only the natural environment, but also the culture and livelihood born from therelationship with nature are major attractions.
By utilizing traditional crafts such as Oshima Tsumugi silk fabric, agricultural, forestry, and marineproducts, as well as a rich food culture, we will develop programs and specialties to generate ripple
effects on primary and secondary industries and settlements, aiming for tourism as an integral
industry.
6，Cooperation between eco-tour guides and local communities (settlements and industries)
When eco-tour guides and guides from agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and villages work together tocreate more attractive tours, eco-tour guides play the role of facilitating communication between local
guides and participants based on the needs of the participants.
Since there are concerns about the impact on residents' lives due to the increase in the number ofusers, local rules will be established in advance to guide people through the settlements.
7、Contribution to local communities and environmental protection
We will also promote the return of profits in various ways, including participation in conservation
activities such as the extermination of invasive species, advice on environmental conservation using
knowledge and information, and cooperation in monitoring surveys.
8、Improving the quality of initiatives through adaptive managementEcotourism is expected to have the effect of strengthening ties within the region through the processof tour implementation, inspection, evaluation, review and revitalizing the region by increasing thenumber of new people involved.

It is important to reflect the results of the inspection and evaluation and the voices of the users in thenext initiatives, and to repeat the process of continuous improvement to enhance the quality of theinitiatives and the power of the community, using the concept of spiraling up.
In addition, since the situation surrounding the region is expected to change drastically with theregistration of the region as a World Natural Heritage site, it is important to have a mechanism toreview efforts and methods flexibly in line with the principles, and the Ecotourism Promotion Council
plays a role in this process.
See attached: Amami Islands Ecotourism Promotion General Plan, pages 8-10.
Specifically
Policy 2: Re-recognition and sharing of local resources
Policy 5: Promotion of tourism as a comprehensive industry in the region - "Amami Island Expo",
Policy 3: Establishing rules for appropriate use - "Rules for Appropriate Use of Kinsakubaru", "Santaro
Line Night Tour Rules",Policy 6: Cooperation between eco-tour guides and local communities (villages and industries) - "LocalRules for Kuninao Village" (PDF)
Policy 7: Contributions to Local Community and Environmental Conservation - "Amami Oshima Tourism
and Products Federation Voluntary Project: Improvement of Tourism Facilities (Implementation ofTourism Area Clean Campaign, twice a year)" PDF, Amami Newspaper "Overuse" PDF

Key success factors
In addition to implementing the above specific basic policies, support was provided for the securing
and training of human resources who will play a central role in future industrial development, such as
eco-tour guides, local interpreter guides and operators of the "Amami Island Expo" that provides
experiential programs.
Another major factor in the success of the project was the certification by the Amami Islands EcoTourism Council of “a guide” with deep knowledge and philosophy about the nature and culture of theAmami Islands, who provides safe and high-quality experiences to visitors and is responsible for theenvironmental conservation of the region.
Lessons learnedIn some areas such as the Kinsakubaru Primeval Forest, there were concerns about the loss of thepristine atmosphere due to the concentration of many users during certain times of the year such asGolden Week.
There were also concerns about the impact on wildlife due to the increase in the number of uncaring
tourists and individuals, such as roadkill caused by high-speed driving on nighttime forest roads and thechasing of the Amami rabbit, as well as the impact on rare wild animals and plants due to theft andpoaching.
In order to resolve these concerns, we have promoted initiatives to support the improvement of guideskills and introduced a registration and certification system to ensure the quality of guides.
Local residents and other concerned parties prepared the "Rules for Appropriate Use of Kinsakubaru
and Night Tour Locations (number of vehicles entering the area, speed limits, etc.)," which weredisseminated to tourists and tested.
In addition, we must now consider the importance of introducing green slow mobility, aimed atobserving speed limits.
While implementing the Good Practice what challenges were faced, and how were they overcome? Click to add
your text

Results, achievements and recognitions
What were the qualitative and quantitative results of the good practice? Has it received any rewards? Click to add
your text

The "Requirements for Registered Guides" and "Requirements for Certified Guides" for Amami Islands
eco-tour guides were established.
In the "Eco-tour Guide Initial Stage Training Program", 153 people completed the training and wereregistered in Amami Oshima from 2014 to 2019. The certified guides total 75, with the list available tothe public.
In addition, as a result of the concerted efforts of the national, prefectural and municipal governments,local residents, and tourism businesses, the IUCN recommended in May 2021 that the site isappropriate for World Natural Heritage listing, A decision will be made at the World Natural Heritage
Committee meeting to be held on July 16.

As a result of establishing a registered and certified guide system, implementing voluntary rules, andinforming tourists and local residents through the guides, the impact on wildlife has been minimized.

Additional references
Provide links to further information. Pictures and videos should be available for download either from Youtube,Vimeo or other Cloud-based (Google/ One Drive) download URL.

Amami Islands Ecotourism Promotion Overall Plan
Amami Oshima Eco-Tour Guide Liaison Council
Amami Islands Certified Eco-Tour Guide - Amami Islands Regional Administration Association
Trial Rules for Appropriate Use of Kinsakubaru.pdf
Wide Area Administration Association of Amami Islands
Agreement reached on Santaro Line night tour rule proposal - The Amami Shimbun
Ministry of the Environment _ Amami Islands National Park
Collecting, sorting and investigating drifted garbage
Extermination of invasive alien species in Yamato Village Forest Police - The Amami Shimbun
Nature unique to Amami to be preserved for the future - The Amami Shimbun
The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Wildlife Conservation Center - The Amami Shimbun
The 1st symposium to promote the Amami World Natural Heritage - The Amami Shimbun
Prefectural ordinance against exotic animals and plants - The Amami Shimbun
http://kyushu.env.go.jp/okinawa/pre_2021/post_143.html
Implementation of a demonstration experiment on night tours in the vicinity of the Santaro Line
http://kyushu.env.go.jp/okinawa/pre_2020/post_130.html
Measures against Invasive Alien Species ｜ Amami Wildlife Conservation Center

Experience Programs in the Amami Islands: Amami Shima Expo
Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island World Natural Heritage
Nominated Sites｜For the World Heritage List｜Nomination Form and Management Plan