Waterbird populations and wildlife refuges in Japan

Abstract

We analyzed how waterbird habitats are covered by wildlife refuges in Japan. Of 84 waterfowl sites, 35.7% were specially protected, a further 22.6% were protected, and 41.7% were unprotected. Of 152 shorebird sites, 10.0% were specially protected, a further 24.7% were protected, and 66.7% were unprotected. The majority of sites with either large population sizes or more than five species that exceeded Ramsar Criteria were specially or normally protected for waterfowl, but not so for shorebirds. We ranked the contribution of each site to endangered waterfowl, shorebirds and Shelduck Tadorna tadorna. The results revealed that only a few sites hosted relatively many endangered species, while the rest of the sites did not play an important role as habitats for endangered species. Considering our results and the fact that both waterfowl and shorebird move in flocks, in order to protect endangered waterbirds, it is necessary to increase the size of specially protected areas of wildlife refuges. Six high ranking sites (Daijugarami, Sone Tideland, Awase Tideland, Usa coast, the southern-part of Osaka Kita Port, and Shirakawa River), contributing to supporting a number of endangered species, need to be given the highest conservation priority.

Sensitivity analysis of collision risk at wind turbines based on flight altitude of migratory waterbirds

“…Currently, these two regions account for 47% of total wind power generation in Japan (MOETIJ, 2020). These regions have many wetlands, including rivers, lakes and marshes that serve as important stopover and wintering grounds for large, migratory waterfowl species such as geese and swans (Mikami et al, 2012), the populations of which number approximately 160,000 (MOEJ, 2021c). There have been no reports of geese and swans colliding with wind turbines in Japan (Ura, 2015), possibly because wind farm managers are not required to report collisions.…”