Outline: Long-Term Monitoring Plan for the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage
Site (Draft)
1. Objective
Long-term monitoring is implemented for adaptive management of the heritage site basedon scientific knowledge, within the scope of the management measures stipulated in theManagement Plan for the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site.
This Plan was formulated in order to define the monitoring items and contents required for“effective and efficient” implementation of adaptive management.

2. Basic Monitoring Policy
This Plan establishes the evaluation items required for implementation of adaptivemanagement, and defines the monitoring items and contents used to obtain the necessary
data for each evaluation item.
1) Evaluation items
The following evaluation items are applied to determine whether the criteria of theShiretoko World Natural Heritage Site are being upheld, whether UNESCO and IUCN
recommendations are being complied with, and whether management is being carried out
according to the Heritage Site Management Plan:I

The productivity of a unique ecosystem is being maintained.

II The interaction between marine and terrestrial ecosystems is being maintained.
III Biodiversity is being maintained at the same level as when the site wasinscribed on the World Heritage List.
IV Conservation of marine ecosystems within the heritage site is being balancedwith stable fishing through sustainable use of fisheries resources.
V

Impact of river constructions has been lessened so as to maintain river
ecosystems that can support salmonid species reproduction.

VI Excessive influence of high sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) population
density on the ecosystem of the heritage site is not occurring.
VII Recreational utilization of the site and other human activities are beingbalanced with conservation of the natural environment.
1VIII Effects, or potential effects of climate change are being tracked early.

2) Monitoring items
A list of monitoring items (Appendix.7) used to obtain the necessary data for eachevaluation item has been prepared. Multiple items are set to evaluate each individual item.
There are 37 monitoring items in all, classified as follows in accordance with theimplementing body.
i)

Monitoring items implemented by relevant government agencies*In this case, “relevant government agencies” refers to the Ministry of the Environment,
the Forestry Agency, and the Hokkaido Government.

ii)

Monitoring items implemented in cooperation with local governments, related bodies,
experts, and other government agencies besides those mentioned in i)

Surveys and research that does not fit the above two classifications will be considered andimplemented under a third classification, “iii) Other surveys and research”
3) Monitoring methods and evaluation criteria
As much as possible, monitoring methods, evaluation indicators and evaluation criteria
are to be “easily implementable,” “indicators that allow advance detection of futurechanges,” and “easy to evaluate.” The methods and criteria may be flexibly revised, evenduring the implementation period, as the situation requires.
4) Implementation of monitoring and sharing of results
Monitoring is implemented through close collaboration and cooperation between all
relevant parties, and information on monitoring and survey results are shared as needed.

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3．Evaluation procedure
Evaluation items are assessed based on the evaluation of monitoring items. Eachmonitoring item is evaluated individually based on the monitoring results.
The Scientific Council makes assessments of each of the eight evaluation items. In principle,
each individual Working Group, etc. makes evaluation of each monitoring item.
Schematic diagram of evaluation procedure
Evaluation item
Monitoring item
Evaluation by each Working Group
Evaluation of monitoring item
Assessment by Scientific Council
Assessment of evaluation item

Evaluation item for each Working Group are to be individually assigned in accordance withthe field of specialization, as follows, so as to harness the specialized expertise of each
Working Group. Each Working Group is to make assessments of the monitoring item(s)relevant to that Working Group’s evaluation items.
For monitoring results which it is difficult for a Working Group to assess, a committee
member selected from the Scientific Council or Working Groups is to make assessments onbehalf of the Working Group. Also, monitoring items which only apply to evaluation items VI,
VII and/or VIII are to be assessed by the Scientific Council.
4. Framework of the plan1) Duration of plan
The duration of one period of the plan is 10 years, with the first period beginning in April
2012 and ending in March 2022. Deliberations on the continuation and/or revision of theplan are to be held every five years or so.
2) Other
Relevant government agencies determine the contents of monitoring projects each year
based on this Plan, and perform the necessary monitoring and surveys for that fiscal year
to the extent of their ability. Each fiscal year, the delegation of duties may be revised asneeded. Each Working Group makes assessment of the monitoring results used toevaluate that Working Group’s designated evaluation items.
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