Threatened Wildlife of Japan (species listed on the Red List and the Red Data Book)

(as of March 2003)

Taxonomical group	Species assessed	Extinct	Extinct in the wild	Threatened species	Near threatened	Lack of information	Threatened local population	Number of threatened species
Critically endangered + Endangered	Vulnerable
Animals	Mammals	Approx. 200	4	0	Category IA, Category IB	16	16	9	12	48
Birds	Approx. 700	13	1	12	20	47	16	16	2	89
17	25
Reptiles	97	0	0	2	7	11	9	1	2	18
Amphibians	64	0	0	5	9	5	0	4	14
1	4
Brackish water and freshwater fishes	Approx. 300	3	0	58	18	12	5	14	76
29	29
Insects	Approx. 30,000	2	0	63	76	161	88	3	139
Land/freshwater molluscs	Approx. 1,000	25	0	86	165	206	69	5	251
Spiders/ crustacea	Approx. 4,200	0	1	10	23	31	36	0	33
Subtotal for animals	47	2	303	365	456	224	42	668
Plants	Vascular plants	Approx. 7,000	20	5	1,044	621	145	52	0	1,665
Bryophytes	Approx. 1,800	0	0	564	480
Algae	Approx. 5,500	5	1	110	70	4	54	0	180
Lichen	Approx. 1,000	3	0	35	6	24	0	0	41
Fungi	Approx. 16,500	27	1	53	10	0	0	0	63
Subtotal for plants	55	7	1,264	730	190	123	0	1,994
Total	102	9	1,567	1,095	646	347	42	2,662

(1) Data on the assessed animal species (including subspecies) were derived from the Checklist of Japanese Species of Wildlife 1993, 1995, and 1998 edited by the Environment Agency.

(2) Data on the vascular plants (including subspecies) were gathered by the Japanese Society for Plants Systematics.

(3) Data on the species of bryophytes, algae, lichene, and fungi (including subspecies) were derived from Environment Agency surveys.

(4) Data on the current state of threatened species (including subspecies) were derived from the Revised Red Data Book—Threatened Wildlife of Japan: Amphibians, Reptiles, Plants I, and Plants II (edited by the Environment Agency in 2000), Mammals and Birds (edited by the Ministry of the Environment in 2002) and the Red Lists on Brackish water and freshwater fish, Invertebrates (Insects, Land/freshwater shellfish, Arachnids, and Myriapods, Crustacea, etc.) compiled by the Environment Agency in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

The categories are as follows:

Extinct: Species that are considered extinct in Japan

Extinct in the Wild: Species that can only survive by being raised or by cultivation

Critically Endangered + Endangered: Species in danger of extinction

Vulnerable: Species facing increasing danger of extinction

Near Threatened: Species with weak foundation for survival

Threatened Local Population: Population of species that is isolated in an area and has high possibility of extinction.

Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment

Location of National and Quasi-national Parks

## National park

Rishiri-Rebun

—Sarobetsu

Shiretoko

Akan

Kushiro Shitsugen

Daisetsuzan

Shikotsu-Toya

Towada-Hachimantai

Rikuchu Kaigan

Bandai-Asahi

Nikko

Joshinetsu Kogen

Chichibu-Tama-Kai

Ogasawara

Fuji-Hakone-Izu

Chubu Sangaku

Hakusan

Minami Alps

Ise-Shima

Yoshino-Kumano

⑳ Sanin Kaigan

㉑ Setonaikai

㉒ Daisen-Oki

㉓ Ashizuri-Uwakai

㉔ Saikai

㉕ Unzen-Amakusa

㉖ Aso-Kuju

㉗ Kirishima-Yaku

㉘ Iriomote

Shokanbetsu-Teuri

①-Yagishiri

②Abashiri

③Niseko-Shakotan

④Otaru Kaigan

⑤Hidaka Sanmyaku-Erim

⑥Onuma

⑦Shimokita Hanto

⑧Tsugaru

⑨Hayachine

⑩Kurikoma

⑪Minamisanriku-Kinkaza

⑫Zao

⑬Oga

⑭Chokai

⑮Echigo Sanzan-Tadami

⑯Suigo-Tsukuba

⑰Myogi-Arafune-Saku Kogen

⑱Minamiboso

⑲Meiji Memorial Forest Takao

⑳Tanzawa-Oyama

20 Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama

21 Noto Hanto

22 Echizen-Kaga Kaigan

23 Wakasawan

24 Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen

25 Tenryu-Okumikawa

26 Ibi-Sekigahara-Yoro

27 Hida-Kisogawa

28 Aichi Kogen

29 Mikawawan

30 Suzuka

31 Muroo-Akame-Aoyama

32 Biwako

33 Meiji Memorial Forest Minoo

34 Kongo-Ikoma-Kisen

35 Hyonosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan

36 Yamato-Aogaki

37 Koya-Ryujin

38 Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku

Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment

wetland, the problem with invasive alien species, etc. (2) In addition to conservation, active “restoration of the nature” is proposed. (3) “Sustainable use” of various kinds of space, such as satochi-satoyama, is proposed. In other words, concrete, efficient measures are developed with these three pillars as a basic policy to promote regional biodiversity conservation.

Natural parks, including national parks, represent the excellent natural scenery of Japan. Based on the revision of the National Strategy on Biological Diversity, the Natural Parks Law has also been revised to include the establishment of a regulated utilization zones for the conservation and appropriate use of ecosystems; establishment of a scenic landscape protection agreement system to protect secondary natural scenery areas such as grasslands and satochi-satoyama; and a system to assign citizens' groups as park management organizations. In addition, to promote the conservation of internationally important wetlands, Miyajima-numa and Fujimae-higata were added to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in November 2002.

In addition, the restoration of the natural environment destroyed in the past has begun with the participation of experts, local authorities, NPOs and local residents. These projects include the restoration of meandering river in the Kushiro-shitsugen wetlands and the regeneration of coppice in Musashino at Kunugiyama in Saitama Prefecture. Furthermore, the Law for the Promotion of Nature Restoration was established recently, setting forth basic principles for the restoration of nature and concrete procedures for its promotion.

Changes in the Number of Natural Park Visitors

Note: Statistics of park visitors have been gathered for quasi-national parks from 1957 and for prefectural natural parks since 1965. Source: Survey of Natural Park Visitors, Ministry of the Environment