URBAN BIODIVERSITY
AND GREENERY

Greening in Urban Areas
These efforts helped achieve an improvement for the first time in the percentage of green and blue spaces (waterCONSERVATION OF
BIODIVERSITY AND
CREATION OF GREENERYareas) in the 23 wards since the research was started. We plant trees to nurture biodiversity and flowers to express
the Japanese spirit of omotenashi, or hospitality, enriching people’s lives with the comfort such green spaces bring.

Greenery Program

As one of the largest cities in the world, Tokyo spreads out from the mainland to the Ogasawara Islands, or overRequirement

TargetSubmission of Greenery Plansatisfying the greenery standards

Newly constructed, renovated, or extended
buildings of 1,000 m2 or larger in site area.
(For public buildings, 250 m2 or larger.)

1,900 km from north to south, and has a variation in elevation of more than 2,000 m.
For buildings:

Tokyo consists not only of urban central areas with green spaces, including roadside trees and parks but also

Greening is requiredof different natural environments: suburbs partly covered with woods and fields, satoyama (open light-filled

for more thanwoodland near populated areas) and hilly terrain full of biodiversity, steep mountain areas overrun by primevalof roof area

20%*

Examples of TMG
greenery standards

forests, and islands with a unique natural environment and ecosystem caused by volcanic activity, including theOgasawara Islands registered as a natural World Heritage site.

On the ground:Greening is required

for more thanof open space area

To encourage the conservation of biodiversity,
TMG registers green spaces where nativespecies are planted above a certain level,
designating them with special logos andhighlighting them on our website.

20%** For site areas of 5,000 m2 or larger, 25% of greening is required.
* For planned development projects, 30% of greening is required(35% for areas of 5,000 m2 or larger).

Valley in Okutama area

Measures for Alien Species
Various alien species are brought in Tokyo from both home and abroad,sometimes having a great impact on native creatures etc. For example,
raccoons (Procyon lotor) and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) are
increasingly causing damage to the living environment and ecosystems
in the city.
Recently, alien species that can cause damage to the human body havebeen identified as well. In 2014, redback spiders were found in urban
areas. In 2017, red imported fire ants or tropical fire ants were foundat piers where cargo from overseas is offloaded. TMG will strengthen
measures against these alien species to reduce the impact on the living
Ogasawara islands

25City Hall and the surrounding area

environment, ecosystem, etc.
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URBAN BIODIVERSITY AND GREENERY

In accordance with the Greenery Program, TMG has been creating greenery in parallel with urban development.Rich Natural Environment in Urban Neighborhoods
It only takes approximately 50 minutes to get from the center of Tokyo to Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park,

To conserve the precious nature in urban

a famous tourist spot registered in the Michelin Green Guide. Part of the park is the property of the Head Temple

neighborhoods, including satoyama (open

Takao-san Yakuo-in that has historical and cultural features as well as magnificent landscapes. It also offers anlight-filled woodland near populated areas)

ecosystem of abundant nature despite its proximity to central Tokyo, well deserving its world famous reputation.

in mountain areas and hilly terrain, we are

In 2018 when the park celebrated the 50th anniversary of its designation as a quasi-national park in 1967, a 50th

working with local municipalities to promoteanniversary project was held to promote recognition of the region.

the designation of conservation areas, striving

URBAN BIODIVERSITY AND GREENERY

Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park

Conserving Precious Nature Together with TokyoResidents

for preservation and restoration.
In satoyama and green spaces needing
conservation, local volunteer groups playa central role in green space conservation
activities, such as cutting undergrowth andthinning trees. To recruit new human resources
to carry out such conservation activities, weare implementing efforts to promote the activities, such as providing opportunities for experience-based
programs in which even inexperienced people can easily participate.

Efforts to reintroduce
the Oriental dollarbird,(Eurystomus orientalis) once
commonly seen in Mt.
Takao, to commemorate
50th anniversary

Events to draw attention
to the attractiveness ofthe mountain in an urban
central part of Tokyo aswell as the Mt. Takao area
© Tenryu-muraOgasawara Islands Registered as World Heritage
Site in June 2011
Consisting of over 30 islands, the Ogasawara
Islands are located in the North West Pacific1,000 km south of Tokyo, where dolphins
and whales inhabit a beautiful blue ocean.

Natural Parks with Various Features

Geological features on the island show theIn addition to Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park, there are nine natural parks in Tokyo, each having its own

These islands have never been part of any

distinctive features. Recently, the number of international visitors has increased, along with the range of activities

continent, and so the living creatures able toon offer. Given the situation, the Vision for Tokyo Natural Parks was formulated as a comprehensive blueprint forreach the islands over the sea could survive only

the Tokyo natural parks to more fully enhance potential attractiveness, conserve the rich natural environment,by adapting to the environment. The Ogasawara

history, and culture as well as promoting the opportunity to visit the parks.

Islands were evaluated as an area with aevolutionary process of oceanic island arcs.

precious ecosystem and registered as a natural
World Heritage site in June 2011 as they reveal
the evolution of and connection between living
things not seen in any other areas.
To protect the value of the World Heritage site,
we are removing influential alien species whileconserving decreasing endemic species. We
are also developing ecotourism to help protect
and properly use valuable natural resources andare striving to prevent the entry of new alien
species.
Fuji-Hakone Izu National Park (Miyakejima) characterized by different
volcanic landscapes on each island

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Chichibu Tama Kai National Park (Mitosan) where we can enjoy
mountain-walking through all four seasons

Preventing alien species fromentering the islands on thesoles of shoes

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