Overview of the Monitoring
Sites 1000
Ministry of the Environment Nature
Conservation Bureau, Biodiversity
Center of Japan

Yusuke SAITO

http://www.biodic.go.jp/

Points of the Slides

1. The purpose and business structure of theMonitoring Sites 1000
2. An introduction of all fields of the Monitoring Sites
1000, and example survey results
3. Future prospects, etc.

Points of the Slides

1. The purpose and business structure of theMonitoring Sites 1000
2. An introduction of all fields of the Monitoring Sites
1000, and example survey results
3. Future prospects, etc.

Ecosystems- Supply source of various
ecosystem services, our foundation
for living.
- In addition to the laws of nature,
anthropogenic influences are alsoa factor for change.

- Understanding the state of an ecosystem and detectingchange (in particular signs of deterioration) at an early stage.
- Recording of scientific data relating to ecosystem changes toaid nature conservation measures and academic research.

Often neglected, but extremely important!

The Purpose of theMonitoring Sites 1000
Official name:"Regional Monitoring Promotion Project for Important Ecosystems"
A project which aims to conduct long-term, quantitative

monitoring of Japan’s basic ecosystems, andpublish obtained results in order to assist academic
research and develop appropriate nature
conservation measures.
Long-term surveys of approximately 1000 sites throughout Japanover a period of 100 years (planned)

Flow of Operations
Setting target
fieldsFeedback whennecessary

業務の進め方

Red: Implemented every year
Green: Once every 1 to 5 years
Blue: Only at the start

Policyexamination

Publication ofresults

Participation by citizens
and experts( Reports / data )Verification ofresults-Implementation (continuation)
possibility - Accuracy-Efficiency and cost-Unity, etc.

Implementation

Survey systemconstructionof monitoringstudiesSurvey site
selection

Academicresearch

Establishment ofsurvey methods

Survey Field, Contents, and Number of Sites
Ecosystem

Survey Site

Quasi-core

Seven surveys consisting of (1) Physical environment,(2) Vegetation, (3) Pinus pumila annual branch growth,(4) Flowering phenology, (5) Butterflies, (6) Groundwandering beetles, (7) Bumblebees(1) Every tree survey, (2) Litter, (3) Ground wanderingbeetles(1) Every tree survey, (2) Litter, (3) Ground wanderingbeetles

Land birds(1) Land bird population survey

Core site

Nine surveys consisting of (1) Flora, (2) Medium andlarge mammals, (3) Birds, (4) Butterflies, (5) Waterenvironment, (6) Harvest mice, (7) Frogs, (8) Fireflies,(9) Vegetation map

AlpineCore

Terrestrial

Land

Forest/Grasslands

Satochi

Major Survey Items

General site At least one survey from the nine core site surveys

Landwater

Lakes andwetlands

Marine shore

Waterfowl
Sandybeaches
ShoresCoast Tidal flats

Ocean

Sea turtles

Zosterabeds
Seaweedbeds

Coral reefs
Small islandsWetlands: (1) Vegetation, (2) Physical environment andflowering phenology
Lakes: (1) Animal and plant plankton, (2) Lakevegetation, (3) Lake benthos, etc.
(1) Population survey, (2) Swan growth rate, (3)Weather and surrounding environment(1) Number of landings/spawnings, (2) Sandtemperature, (3) Changes to coast, (4) Understand feeddamage(1) Benthic organisms, (2) Temperature(1) Benthic organisms, (2) Subsoil particle analysis,(3) Granularity loss on ignition

Shorebirds(1) Population surveySites

Field SurveyorsSurveyors

5

Researchers

50

20

Researchers

28

Researchers

419

Citizen scientists

18

Citizen scientists

219

Citizen scientists

25

Researchers

69

81

Citizen scientists

137

36

Citizen scientists

150

6

Researchers

50

10144

Researchers
Citizen scientists

115
673

330
400
2,505

(1) Seaweed survey, (2) Benthic organisms

6

Researchers

38(1) Seaweed survey

6

Researchers

49

24

Researchers

66

30

Researchers

87(1) Coverage survey, (2) Physical environment,(3) Acanthaster population, etc.

Seabird sites (1) Population survey, (2) Breeding survey

Total

1,077

sites

4,719

peopleLandLandwaterCoast(Ocean)

Alpine surveys
Forest and grassland surveys
Land bird surveys
Satochi surveys
Wetlands surveys
Lake surveys
Waterfowl surveys
Shore surveys
Tidal flat surveys
Snipe and plover surveys
Seaweed bed surveys
Zostera bed surveys
Coral reef surveys
Sea turtle surveys
Seabird surveys

KyushuHokkaido

HonshuShikoku

Pacific

Ensuring Survey Accuracy (Unified Techniques)
業務の進め方- Although long-term survey data from multiple locations is useful,data comparison is difficult if there are varying survey methods
depending on location or time.
Establishment of a common national "Survey Manual" thatis consistently followed.
In general, changes to this manual are
not allowed except for minor changes
when necessary.