Newly Designated Ramsar Site, Izumi Wintering Habitat of Cranes

On November 18, 2021, the Izumi Wintering Habitat of Cranes (Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture) was listed on the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Inclusion of Izumi Wintering Habitat of Cranes in the List of Wetlands of International Importance

On November 18, 2021, the Izumi Wintering Habitat of Cranes (478ha) was newly listed on the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat.

The Izumi Wintering Habitat of Cranes is located on the Izumi Plain in the northern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, facing the Yatsushiro Sea into which three rivers, the Takaono River, the Noda River and the Euchi River, flow. It is a rural area mainly on reclaimed land where rice in summer and vegetables in winter are cultivated.

In winter, cranes and ducks migrate to Izumi City in large groups to forage and rest. It is an important wintering ground for an average of over 37,000 migratory birds every year. Especially, 8,000 to 10,000 of the endangered Grus monacha (Hooded Crane), equivalent to almost 90% of its population, and 2,000 to 3,000 Grus vivio (White-naped Crane), equivalent to about 50% of its population, fly over the city every year.

The designation of the Izumi Wintering Habitat of Crane brings the total number of Ramsar Sites in Japan to 53, with a total area of 155,174ha.

Please refer to more details about Ramsar Convention from the following link.

https://www.ramsar.org/

Simultaneous announcement in Izumi City

For Japanese

Attached File:

• Location Map of Ramsar Sites in Japan (2021.11) [PDF 84 KB]