Requests approved: 0Total amount approved: USD 0For details, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1193/assistance/N/AFebruary 2008: joint World Heritage Centre/ IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission; September 2019:IUCN Advisory missionWater infrastructure (River engineering, in particular dams, impeding or restricting fish migration,including major runs of salmonids)Aquaculture (Management of commercial fisheries, including coordination and cooperation withneighbouring States Parties)Hyper-abundant species (Excessive population density of Sika Deer affecting forest regenerationand vegetation more broadly)Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation and Management system/Management plan (Tourism andvisitor management)Climate change and severe weather events (Anticipated effects of climate change)Management of the Western Steller sea lion population)The predicted impacts of climate change on the attributes of the Outstanding Universal Value(OUV) of the property are being reinvestigated and the government is aiming to establish anadaptive management strategy by 2024 to minimize climate change-driven impacts. Effects ofclimate change are generating greater concern, and there is insufficient data for graspingbiological responses brought by climate change.
The populations of Steller sea lions that migrate to the Japan Sea have been managed in linewith a Basic Management Policy, which aims to minimize the damage they cause to the fishingwithin a range where there is no risk of extinctionunder which the number of individuals in the migratory population will be estimated based on dataacquired in the breeding area, migration and other trends of Stellar sea lions that migrate to Japanincluding the Nemuro Strait. Management will be based on scientific evidence with considerationof the precautionary principle;The damage caused by Stellar sea lions to the fishing industry in the waters around Nemurodecreased by 36.8% from 357 million yen (approximately USD2.6 million) at the highest recordedlevel in 2013 to 131 million yen (approximately USD972,000). However, the value of fisherylandings also decreased significantly during this period, therefore the damage caused by Stellersea lions continues to be a threat to the sustainability of coastal fisheries. Until the BasicManagement Policy is revised, non-lethal measures such as reinforced fishing nets will becontinued, however since only limited effects have been achieved, the current catch quota will beno risk of extinction of the Asian populationStellersea lions based on past records;A Comprehensive Evaluation Report of the 2012-2021 Long-Term Monitoring Plan for theproperty (LTMP) was published in 2022 (annexed to the State Party report), which evaluated theproperty to have maintained its natural World Heritage value. The LTMP revision is expected tobe completed by March 2023. It will set out enhanced monitoring of climate change driven impactsfrom 2022 and reflect biodiversity attributes under Criterion (x). Scientific evaluation of the statusof the OUV is to be continued based on the results of this monitoring;Improvement work regarding dam modifications on the Rusha River is expected to be completedin 2024 in line with the roadmap developed based on hydraulic modeling and numericalsimulation. Monitoring includes riverbed topography, numbers of migrating salmon, spawningbeds, and juveniles migrating downstream. Factors affecting the distribution of spawning beds(e.g. water depth, flow velocity, riverbed materials, distribution of driftwood) are analyzed, and theimprovement of the natural spawning environment and reproductive efficiency of salmonassociated with dam modifications will be evaluated.The World Heritage Committee,
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Requests approved: 2 (from 1988-1989)Total amount approved: USD 80,000For details, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/284/assistance/N/ADecember 2002: IUCN monitoring mission; March 2016: IUCN Reactive Monitoring missionGround transport infrastructure (Plans to construct a road and railway through the property;Proposed infrastructure projects)Invasive/alien terrestrial species (Spread of invasive species)Land conversion (Encroachment of wildlife habitats in the buffer zone)Management systems/Management Plan (Lack of appropriate inter-agencies and inter-ministriesconsultation and coordination for development proposals)Illegal activities (poaching)WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add

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