Shiretoko-goko lakes and Shiretoko mountain range
photo by MACHIDA Yasuyoshi

5. Factors Affecting the Property
5a. Development pressures

5c. Natural disasters and preparedness
5d. Visitor and tourism pressures
5e. Number of inhabitants within the property

Factors Affectingthe Property

5b. Environmental pressures5a. Development pressures
Most of the national forests, which account for 95 percent of theterrestrial part of the nominated site, are either designated or planned to
be designated as the Shiretoko Forest Ecosystem Reserve and there is
no forestry activity for timber production conducted within the site.
Although there is a small area of privately owned forests within the site,
forestry activities are limited to forest management operations such asplanned tree thinning which takes into account the virgin naturallandscape, and therefore these activities do not affect the naturalenvironment of the nominated site. Furthermore, there are no otherongoing activities such as farming or mining conducted at the site andconsequently, there is no pressure from development activity on land at
the nominated site.

Factors Affecting
the Property

On the other hand, supported by a high production level of the rich sea,
fishery activities such as placing set nets and gill nets as well as
aquaculture are conducted in the sea. Existing measures to realize
sustainable use of resources include fishery control by the Fisheries
Law and other related laws such as the Fishery Resources Protection
Law, regulations issued by Hokkaido, voluntary restrictions by thefishery industry (such as designating non-fishing areas) and artificial
production and fry release programs for salmon and trout. Thesemeasures will be continued to ensure the appropriate management ofresources, and therefore, fishing pressures are not likely to increase.
With regard to the natural run of salmon and trout, natural waterways
are ensured for those not captured in the set nets to swim upstream. Inaddition, in the rivers where adult salmon are captured for the artificial
production and fry release program, the fish are allowed to swim
upstream once the required level of adult fish is captured. Thesemeasures will be continued in the future.

5b. Environmental pressures
Climate change is the environmental pressure which may have impact
on the value of the nominated site. As the site lies at the most southernseasonal sea ice area in the world, the volume of sea ice is very sensitive
to the fluctuation of air temperature. Thus, the sea ice is an excellent
indicator of climatic change. The possible effects of temperaturefluctuations on sea ice are studied by Aota (2003) using climatic and sea
ice observation records spanning more than 100 years (1892 - 2000). He
pointed out that in the Hokkaido coastal area which lies in the southern
extreme of the Sea of Okhotsk, the temperature was becoming warmerand sea ice concentration showed the declining tendency, and from a
simple physical analysis, there is a possibility that a rise of 4 °C in air
temperature would prevent the coastal waters from freezing.

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2004 WORLD HERITAGE LIST NOMINATION ● JAPANIn addition, oil spill in the sea area is considered to be a possible
environmental pressure which may affect the value of the nominatedsite. In particular, oil spills may have a crucial impact on the marine
ecosystem, and effective measures against any oil spills will beimmediately implemented during the initial phase of the accident. Eachrelevant agency will collect, prepare and share necessary information inorder to determine actions required during oil spills such as surveys toidentify environmental impacts and programs to protect the wildlife.

Factors Affecting
the Property

Hokkaido has prepared the “Manual on Measures for Oil SpillAccidents” in March 2000, designating a prompt and effective system tocollect and remove spilled oil through the cooperation and shared
responsibilities of relevant agencies in the incidence of a large scale oilspill accident in the coastal waters of Hokkaido. In addition, the manualsets out activities such as environmental impact surveys (studies todetermine the damage to fishery resources and necessary measures;monitoring water quality; studies to determine the impact on the coastalvegetation; studies to determine the impact on seabirds) and programs tocare and rehabilitate wildlife. Based on this manual, the existing system
will be enhanced to increase coordination and cooperation between
relevant agencies.

5c. Natural disasters andpreparedness
Natural disasters such as landslides in mountain areas are expected in
the nominated site and necessary measures such as restoration ofvegetation cover and the installation of soil conservation structures arebeing implemented to stabilize degraded areas and prevent erosion inorder to minimize the damage. The measures employ construction
methods that take into consideration the run of fish such as salmon.
In addition, natural disasters such as mudslides and mudflows areexpected in the nominated site and measures such as the designation of
Soil Erosion Control Area and the installation of soil control facilities
including landslide barriers and concrete dams are being implemented tominimize the damage in valleys where there are threats of large scaleslides of rock and debris in order to protect houses and public facilities in
the lower parts.
Furthermore, there are a number of steep slopes facing the roads along
the coastline and roadblocks occur due to incidences such as rock falls
by heavy rain, heavy snowfall in winter and avalanches during the snowmelt season.
Relevant agencies have installed preventive measures such as rock fallbarriers, prevention nets and concrete grids as well as avalanche barriersin high risk areas to ensure continued operation of the roads and usersafety. These measures take into consideration the natural environment
and landscape of the area.

96With regard to volcanic activity, specific measures are set out by theHokkaido Disaster Management Council in the “Hokkaido Regional
Disaster Management Plan” (Chapter 7: Volcanic Disaster PreventionPlan) which describes the preventive measures as well as emergency
activities and recovery programs for disasters in the Hokkaido region
according to the Disaster Measures Basic Law. For activities ofvolcanoes including Mt. Iou and Mt. Rausu, Chapter 7 describes disasterprevention measures conducted by Hokkaido, municipalities nearvolcanoes and agencies responsible for disaster management. These
measures include evacuation programs, awareness programs on natural
disasters, and information systems of volcanic activity.

5d. Visitor and tourism pressures
5d.1 General introduction

Factors Affecting
the Property

The national parks of Japan are designated to “protect the places ofscenic beauty and also promote utilization and contribute to the healthand culture of the people.” Designated as a national park in 1964,
Shiretoko is unique in the sense that its main purpose is to preserve oneof the most unaffected natural environments in Japan from humanactivities. Further protection was conferred in 1980, when part of thenational park (including the summit of Mt. Onnebetsu) was reclassified
as Wilderness Area and furthermore, in 1990, when the Forestry
Agency designated the Forest Ecosystem Reserve.
Thus, several protected area zones have been designated within thenominated site with the aim of maintaining its natural environment, as it
is evident that the virgin natural environment of the site is attracting alarge number of visitors. The number of visitors to Shiretoko including
the surrounding areas of the nominated site has increased from 400,000
in 1964 when it was designated as national park, to the current level of
1.6 million to 1.8 million on the Shari town side and 600,000 to 800,000
on the Rausu town side. In addition, the type of visitors has changed
recently from tour groups to individual travelers and there is also an
increase in demand for activity-oriented trips. There are now moretourists who participate in outdoor sports such as mountain climbing,trekking, canoeing and fishing and consequently, the nature and type of
tourist activities is changing and diversifying.
As a result, there are concerns that excessive visitor use may bedamaging the natural environment as well as diminishing visitor
enjoyment through perceptions of overcrowding. There is also concernthat uncontrolled entry into the backcountry (such as the tip of theShiretoko Peninsula) may be harmful to the natural environment andalso pose risks of accidents to the tourists. From the fiscal year of 2001,
the Ministry of the Environment started reviewing the use of thenational park, to develop some rules for ensuring the conservation of thevirgin natural landscapes and diverse ecosystems in Shiretoko.

Gateway to Kamuiwakka hot spring
photo by Ministry of the Environment

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2004 WORLD HERITAGE LIST NOMINATION ● JAPAN

5d.2 Details of visitor activities
In recent years, the annual number of visitors to the Shiretoko National
Park and accommodation facilities in the surrounding areas is some 2.3
million. This number can be roughly categorized into three groups
based on their recreational activities: sightseeing, mountain climbing
and wilderness trekking in the backcountry.
Most visitors who participate in sightseeing activities do not penetrate
far into the site. Mainly they explore the Shiretoko-goko lakes (approx.
500,000 every year), or Kamuiwakka by car or tour couches, or view thesea cliffs and mountain range of the peninsula from tour boats, or admire
the scenery from Shiretoko Pass.

Factors Affecting
the Property

Kamuiwakka hot spring
photo by MACHIDA Yasuyoshi

On the Shari town side of the Shiretoko Mountain range, there are entry
points to the climbing routes at Iwaobetsu hot spring and Kamuiwakka;
these take climbers to Mt. Rausu (altitude: 1,661 m) and Mt. Iou (altitude:1,563 m) respectively. It is estimated that some 10,000 visitors climb Mt.
Rausu and 1,000 climb Mt. Iou each year. It is also estimated thatapproximately 500 of these climbers use the Shiretoko mountain range
traverse route between Mt. Rausu and Mt. Iou.
There is also a climbing route to Mt. Rausu from Rausu hot spring on
the Rausu town side which is used by some 400 climbers each year. In
addition, there is a nature trail that wanders among several ponds andswamps in the surrounding area of Lake Rausu on the northeastern
slope of the Mt. Chinishibetsu at an altitude of about 700 meters. Thelake is a naturally dammed lake and there are communities of alpine
plants and marsh plants along the trail which is used by some 2,000visitors annually.
Compared with the above two types of tourists, it is estimated that there
are much fewer visitors who enter into backcountry. These visitors
reach the Shiretoko Cape by walking along the ridgeline of theShiretoko Peninsula or along the coastline, or by sea kayak or motorboat. There are also some climbers who trek to Mt. Shiretoko, Shiretoko
swamp or Mt. Onnebetsu (in early spring).
The tourist activities described above are not yet significant pressures
like those tourist activities in other national parks in Japan. However, thefollowing environmental impacts could occur if there is not proper
management of the likely future increase in visitors.

Red fox Vulpes vulpes schrencki on the road
photo by Ministry of the Environment

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5.d.2.1 Feeding wildlife (including disposal of refuse)
Yezo sika deer Cervus nippon yesoensis, red fox Vulpes vulpes schrencki
and occasionally the brown bear Ursus arctos may be observed in thenominated site. With the increase in the number of visitors, there aresome who feed the wildlife and it has been suggested that such feedingis altering the animals’ behavior patterns. Existing measures to raiseawareness of the problem include plaques appealing not to feed thewildlife as well as direct instructions to visitors. In particular, feedingbrown bears imposes a serious risk to both the visitors’ safety and thebear population. Therefore, extra efforts will be focused on providing
educational programs and appropriate information on this issue.

5.d.2.2 Impact on rare bird species
The nominated site is one of the major breeding or wintering grounds inJapan for rare bird species such as Blakiston’s fish-owl Ketupa blakistoni
blakistoni and white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and the site is an
important area for the preservation of these species. A protection andbreeding program has been implemented for Blakiston’s fish-owl with
the installation of nest boxes and the banding of chicks.
As the number of visitors increase, more sightseeing tourists mightenter the nesting area and photograph these birds recklessly. There is aconcern that such careless activities may pose a threat to the birds’
breeding behavior. As a measure against such activities, Rusha district
which is considered to be the most important habitat for birds such as
Blakiston’s fish-owl was designated as Designated Special Protection
Area of the National Wildlife Protection Area in November 2001. In thisarea, photographing and sound recording of wildlife are now prohibited.

Factors Affecting
the Property

In areas other than the Rusha district, visitors are requested to refrainfrom entering the forest except for using the roads and park facilities.
Additional protection measures are necessary in the future, especiallyduring the breeding season from winter to spring.
5d.2.3 Influence of exotic plants
Exotic plant species such as spear thistle Cirsium vulgare, oxeye daisy
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, common yarrow Achillea millefolium
and common mullein Verbascum thapsus have been already found along
the roadside and the surrounding slopes and there is a concern that theincrease in visitors will promote their invasion. Planned actions include
ranking the plants by area in terms of their level of impact on the nativespecies and ecosystem and taking appropriate measures starting withthe most invasive plants. In addition, other measures to prevent theinvasion of exotic species will also be investigated.
5d.2.4 Impact of the increase in car traffic
The increase in the number of visitors entering the site with their own
cars is a concern due to the possible damage to plants by air pollution
from exhaust fumes and soot. As a countermeasure, a restriction onpersonal cars has been imposed since the fiscal year of 1999 andalternative public transportation is provided. The objectives of therestriction are to protect the natural environment while maintaining
visitors’ convenience and it is enforced from late July to mid August in
the 12 kilometers between Shiretoko-goko lakes and Kamuiwakka.
During this period, personal cars are prohibited to enter this area and a
shuttle bus is provided for visitors. This program is planned to becontinued.
Shuttle bus for the vehicle-restricted area
photo by Shiretoko Nature Foundation99

2004 WORLD HERITAGE LIST NOMINATION ● JAPANFactors Affecting
the Property

5d.2.5 Damage to the climbing routes, and climbers straying
from the route and harming vegetation
Mt. Rausu which was included in the “Best 100 Mountains in Japan” by
Kyuya Fukada is the most popular mountain for climbers among theShiretoko mountain range. It is estimated that some 10,000 visitors
climb this peak every year. There are two entry points to the climbing
route to Mt. Rausu, one at Iwaobetsu hot spring on the Shari town side
and another at the Rausu hot spring on the Rausu town side. Most of theclimbers use the Iwaobetsu hot spring entry point and a portion of theroute has become damaged due to gully erosion. On the climbing routeon the Rausu town side, some maintenance activities such as trimming
the bush on the route which does not affect the natural environment areconducted within the area about four kilometers from the entry point
but no other activities are conducted on other parts of the climbing route.
There is a concern that the increase of climbers may further damage
the climbing route and the relevant agencies have been conductingmaintenance and repair operations such as piling sandbags, facilitating
drainage and installing plaques and ropes since the fiscal year of 1992. In
addition to continuing these operations, there are plans to implement
measures to prevent the damages to the Shiretoko mountain range
traverse route and Mt. Iou climbing route and to protect the fragile
vegetation in areas such as marshes.
On the trail leading to Lake Rausu, one-third of the three-kilometer trail
has been covered with a boardwalk to protect the vegetation. As thenumber of visitors increase, there have been some damages to the otherportion of the path without boardwalk and to the vegetations by visitors
stepping off the trail in some areas. Measures already taken against
these damages to protect the vegetation include the installation offences, ropes, installing boards and steps to prevent tourists fromstraying off the trail. Planned future actions include reviewing
appropriate policies and measures to prevent uncontrolled use.
5d.2.6 Sewage in the mountain area
Since there are no restrooms except those at the entry points along theclimbing routes in the Shiretoko mountain range, sewage treatment aswell as litter disposal are becoming problems in some of the rest stops
and camping sites. The problems may become more serious as thenumber of climbers increase. There is also a concern that the water
quality is deteriorating in areas around the camping site such as Futatsu
pond on the mountain ridge. Awareness programs on proper sewage
treatment will be conducted.
5d.2.7 Damages to the backcountry (virgin natural environment)
Landing on Shiretoko Cape for leisure purposes has been regulated
since 1984 with the cooperation of relevant organizations. However, thenumber of visitors entering into backcountry is expected to further
increase in the future. Therefore, since the fiscal year of 2001, theMinistry of the Environment and other relevant agencies initiated areview to develop new rules. These rules are to provide adequate
opportunities to experience the nature and to allow sustainable usage
from the viewpoint of preserving the natural environment of theShiretoko National Park.

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5e. Number of inhabitants within
the property

Factors Affecting
the Property

There is no person living within the core area and 17 people residepermanently in the buffer area.

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