2.72 Conservation of Dugong (Dugong dugon), Okinawa Woodpecker(Sapheopipo noguchii) and Okinawa Rail (Gallirallus okinawae) on and aroundOkinawa Island
NOTING that the Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a globally threatened species (i.e. it is listed as‘vulnerable’ under criterion A1 in the 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species);
FURTHER NOTING that a local population around Okinawa Island is also Endangered (undercriteria CR D1 or CR C2b of the Mammalogical Society of Japan, 1997) and that this species has
only been recorded along the coast of Okinawa Island in Japan over the past 30 years;
ALSO NOTING that the Dugong is listed under the US Endangered Species Act;
RECOGNIZING that year-round presence of Dugongs has so far only been confirmed on theeast coast of middle and northern parts of Okinawa Island, thereby indicating the great importanceof this small and isolated area of habitat for the conservation of Okinawa’s Dugongs, whosenumbers are also small;
UNDERSTANDING that options for a military airport for the US Marine Corps include a central
part of the Dugong’s habitat or an adjacent terrestrial area (a relocation site for the current
Futenma Airport);
CONCERNED that if the construction of the airport is to be implemented in this area, it risks
destruction of coral reefs and seagrass beds in the coastal area of Henoko, which are important
resting and feeding areas for Dugongs, and may pose grave threats to the survival of the small,
local population;
ENDORSING the recent decision of the Japanese Government to undertake voluntarily an
Environmental Impact Assessment to determine the likely impact of construction on terrestrial andcoastal habitats, including the coral reefs and seagrass beds on which the Dugong population
depends for its survival;
NOTING that the subtropical forests of the Yambaru, in northern Okinawa, contain manyendemic species and subspecies of international concern, such as Okinawa Woodpecker(Sapheopipo noguchii) (Critically Endangered, IUCN 2000) and Okinawa Rail (Gallirallusokinawae) (Endangered, IUCN 2000), and are therefore particularly important for conservationof biodiversity;
CONCERNED that the survival of many of these endemic species and subspecies in theYambaru is threatened by dam building, construction of forestry roads, felling for timber, andintroduced invasive species, all of which lead to habitat deterioration;
NOTING that a US military training site (US Marine Corps Jungle Warfare Training Centre),
where developments and entry by civilians are banned, has acted as a wildlife refuge;
WELCOMING the decision that half of the US military training site will be returned to Japan in
the near future and that there is a possibility of the Government of Japan designating this area as aForest Ecosystems Protection Area and National Park;

CONCERNED that in the area remaining under US Marine Corps control, construction of seven
military helipads and connecting roadways risks the deterioration of habitats of endemic species in
the most important remaining area of natural forest; andFURTHER CONCERNED that frequent military training in the area will cause disturbance torare species such as the Okinawa Woodpecker and Okinawa Rail and increase the likelihood of
their extinction;
The World Conservation Congress at its 2nd Session in Amman, Jordan, 4–11 October 2000:
1.

URGES the Government of Japan to:(a) complete as soon as possible the voluntary Environmental Impact Assessment relating toconstruction of military facilities in and around the habitat of the Dugong;(b) implement as soon as possible Dugong conservation measures that will help stop further
reduction of the population and help its recovery;(c) prepare as soon as possible a biodiversity conservation plan for the endangered speciesof the Yambaru and Okinawa’s Dugong population, and to conduct detailed studies ofthese species and their habitats; and(d) consider nomination of the Yambaru as a World Heritage Site;

2.

URGES the Government of the United States of America to cooperate with the voluntary
Environmental Impact Assessment, as requested by the Government of Japan;

3.

URGES the Governments of Japan and the United States of America to:(a) take into account the findings of the voluntary Environmental Impact Assessment and on
this basis to take appropriate measures to help ensure the survival of the Dugong
population; and(b) assess the environmental effects of the proposed construction of military facilities andtraining areas, taking into account the studies referred to in operative paragraph 1 (c)above, and on this basis take appropriate measures to help ensure the survival of theOkinawa Woodpecker and Okinawa Rail.

This Recommendation was adopted by consensus. However, the delegation of the State
member Japan did not associate itself with this adoption by consensus. State and Agency
members United States abstained from the adoption by consensus of this Recommendation.
The delegation of the State member Japan provided a formal Statement for the Record
confirming that the Government of Japan had already set up policy guidance to avoid
serious impacts on the natural environment as a result of the relocation of Futenma Airport.
The Government of Japan had also initiated a preliminary assessment of the status ofDugong. The delegation of the United States made a formal Statement for the Record
indicating support for a comprehensive and transparent environmental impact assessment

on the proposed Futenma relocation options, readiness to cooperate with the Governmentof Japan on such an assessment, and openness to dialogue with concerned NGOs. The
Statements are reproduced in full in the Congress Proceedings.