Nature Conservation in Japan -Section 6

[Policies & Programs] Nature Conservation in Japan

6.Wildlife Protection

6.1 Basic Policy

In order to protect valuable wildlife, it is very important to protect their habitats, to regulate hunting and illegal poaching strictly and to implement necessary measures to preserve endangered species.

Japanese wildlife protection system provides a variety of measures to conserve wildlife under the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law, and the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

International cooperation for conservation of migratory birds with neighboring countries and for protection of endangered species particularly in developing countries has been promoted by the Environment Agency.

Wildlife protection system of Japan

[Policies & Programs] Nature Conservation in Japan

6.Wildlife Protection

6.2 Protection System of Mammals and Birds

(A) Outline

More than 600 species of mammals and birds inhabiting in Japan are strictly protected and their hunting and capturing are prohibited without permissions and/or licenses from wildlife protection authorities.

Species of birds and mammals are classified as follows: (1) Animals excluded from regulations of the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Law. A part of marine mammals are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Rats and insectivorous mammals are also excluded from the Law due to their harmful nature to agricultural activities and their rather inappropriate nature to be protected.

(2) Game Species
Some examples of 47 game species are Brown Bear, Black Bear, Shika Deer, Wild Boar, Japanese Hare, Ducks, Green Pheasant, Japanese Quail, and Tree Sparrow. List of game species were made and revised in consideration of such elements as their habitat conditions, populations, the extent of their adverse impact to agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and profits from such game species.

(3) Protected Species
Regarding species not included in (1) and (2) above, capturing and hunting are totally prohibited except when the special permission is granted; for example in undertaking the scientific researches, controlling an increased population of harmful species and protecting people's life.

(B) Wildlife Protection Areas

(C) Hunting System

• Hunting license
  Under the Japanese hunting system, anyone who wants to hunt must pass the state examination for hunting in order to make sure the quick identification of game species and safety by oneself.
  In addition, hunters are required to register their names and to pay their hunting tax and registration tax to the prefectural governments within the territory of which they intend to hunt. Three kinds of licenses for the use of shotguns & rifles, nets & traps, and air guns using compressed air can be issued by prefectural governments. The total number of hunters is around 259 thousand in Japan.

License classification	Hunting tackles	Number of licenses issued (as of 1991)
A class	Net, Trap	16,000
B class	Shotgun, Rifle	228,000
C class	Airgun, Firearm using compressed gas	15,000

• Strict regulations for hunting
  To ensure safety in hunting and to maintain the population of game species, strict regulations are enforced as follows;
  
  
  • (a)Designation of hunting season
  • (b)Designation of game reserves where hunting is prohibited
  • (c)Prohibition of use of dangerous devices, equipments and methods
  • (d)Prohibition of mass slaughter and capturing
  • (e)Restriction on number of games to be hunted per a day per a season

  
  Copper Pheasant
  (Syrmaticus soemmerringii scintillans)

[Policies & Programs] Nature Conservation in Japan

6.Wildlife Protection

6.3 Protection of Endangered Species

In spite of people's efforts, some species are threatened due to past hunting pressure, habitat degradation or destruction, harmful toxic agricultural chemicals or other reasons. The Environment Agency published the "Red Data Book of Japan". In 1992, the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was enacted. Under this and the other similar Laws, efforts have been made to protect some endangered species.

(A) Red Data Book of Japan

Number of Japanese Taxa Listed in the Red Data Book of Japan

		Known Japanese Taxa	EX	Ew	Threatened			NT	DD	Number of Threatened species
					CR	EN	VU
Animals	Mammal	App. 200	4	0	11	20	16	16	9	47
	Bird	App. 700	13	1	17	25	48	16	15	90
	Reptile	97	0	0	2	5	11	9	1	18
	Amphibian	64	0	0	1	4	9	5	0	14
		Known Japanese Taxa	EX		Threatened			Rare		Number of Threatened species
					EN		VU
	Fresh water fish	200	2		16		6	17		22
	Insect	30,146	2		23		15	166		38
	Decapod	197	0		0		7	45		7
	Land or fresh water snail	824	0		34		39	54		73
	Other invertebrate	4,040	0		4		3	11		7
		Known Japanese Taxa	EX	Ew	Threatened			NT	DD	Number of Threatened species
					CR	EN	VU
Plants	Vascular plant	7,087	17	12	471	410	518	108	365	1,399
	Moss	App. 1,800	0	0	110		70	4	54	180
	Liverwurst	App. 5,500	5	2	34		6	24	0	40
	Lichen	App. 1,000	3	0	22		23	17	17	45
	Fungus	App 16,500	28	1	51		11	0	0	62
										Total 2,042

EX: Extinct, Ew: Extinct in the Wild, TH: Threatened, CR: Critically Endangered, EN: Endangered, VU: Vulnerable, NT: Near Threatened, DD: Data Deficient

(B)Law for Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Recognizing the importance of species of wild fauna and flora in ecosystems and their essential value for humanity, the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora aims to ensure the conservation of endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and contribute to the conservation of natural surroundings for present and future generations.

• Definition

  Endangered species known to exist in Japan are designated as "National Endangered Species" (hereinafter "NES"), and the species that are listed in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix I or in Japan's bilateral convention or agreement with neighbor countries are designated as "International Endangered Species" (hereinafter "IES").

• Prohibition on Acquisition and Transfer of Endangered Species

  Hunting, gathering, killing or damaging of live NES is prohibited unless the Director-General of the Environment Agency permits for specific purposes. And transfer of individuals and their organs of Endangered Species including processed or intact individuals, and parts and processed parts, either on a commercial or non-commercial basis, is prohibited except when the Director-General of the Environment Agency permits transfer for specific purposes.

  International trading of individuals, organs and others of NES is prohibited either on a commercial or non-commercial basis except in the case that conditions adopted by the Government have been fulfilled.

• Regulations on transfer of Parts IES

  Those who intend to transfer non-processed parts of designated parts in Japan must first register the parts. Registration can be made, if a) the parts have been produced from domesticated or cultivated animals or plants or b) obtained before CITES measures were enforced. Without registration, transfer is allowed only if the Director-General of the Environment Agency permits the transfer for specific purpose.

• Habitat Conservation

  The natural habitats of NES are designated by the Director-General of the Environment Agency as "Natural Habitat Conservation Areas". This area is classified into two types of zones. One type is "Protection zone". In this zone, certain activities such as construction or tree-cutting are restricted by the Director-General of the Environment Agency. The other type is "Monitoring zone," which functions as a buffer zone.

• Rehabilitation of Natural Habitats and Recovery of a Viable Population

  Since the stable survival of Endangered Species may not be achieved by the restrictions on their acquisition and transfer and on human activities in their natural habitat alone, the Government may promote the rehabilitation of natural habitats and the recovery of viable populations of National Endangered Species. The Environment Agency will establish a program promoting the rehabilitation of natural habitats and maintenance of viable populations in cooperation with other Ministries and Agencies. The program may be implemented by the Environment Agency or other Ministries or Agencies, Local Governments and NGOS if appropriate.

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Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan