Measures to protect animals in our National and Quasi-National Parks

1. Basic concepts underlying the protection of animals in our National and Quasi-National Parks

Based on the conservation of wildlife habitats, measures for the protection of animals in our National and Quasi-National Parks are comprehensively pursued through a combination of activities to monitor the state of habitats, regulations on the capture of animals, efforts to restore wildlife environments, and more.
Designated animals are with a high degree of need to urgently implement protective measures in our National and Quasi-National Parks. Coupled with such measures to conserve habitats, protective measures entail the designation of animals on a priority basis beginning with those species for which a high level of positive protective results can be attained through the implementation of regulations on capture.
After designation of a particular species , surveillance, monitoring, and conservation of food sources and other projects will be conducted.

2. Animals covered by regulations on capture and other activities inside Special Zones (designated animals)

The capture of and other actions affecting designated animals inside Special Zones of National and Quasi-National Parks as follows have been restricted since July 20, 2006.

	Animals	National and Quasi-National Parks subject to regulations
Reptiles	Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata	Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, Okinawakaigan Quasi-National Park (Kerama Area)
	Green sea turtle Chelonia mydas	Yakushima National Park, Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, Okinawakaigan Quasi-National Park (Kerama Area)
	Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta	Yakushima National Park, Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, Okinawakaigan Quasi-National Park (Kerama Area)
Insects	ndolestes boninensis (dragonfly)	Ogasawara National Park
	Hemicordulia ogasawarensis (dragonfly)	Ogasawara National Park
	Common skimmer Orthetrum poecilops miyajimaensis (dragonfly)	Setonaikai National Park (Miyajima Area)
	Melitaea protomedia protomedia (butterfly)	Daisen-Oki National Park (Daisen-Hiruzen Area, Sanbesan Area), Hyonosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park
	Everes lacturnus kawaii (mainland subspecies of butterfly)	Saikai National Park (Hiradoshima/Ikitsukijima Area)
	Aporia hippia japonica (butterfly)	Yatsugatake-Chushinkogen Quasi-National Park

3. Background behind the designation of designated animals

Special Zones in our National and Quasi-National Parks are areas that are protected through regulations on various activities that can have an impact on the environment in order to maintain the superb landscape and natural environment Since The National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan came into force (in March 2002), National and Quasi-National Parks have been called upon to fulfill their assigned role of conserving biodiversity.
In April 2002, the Natural Parks Law was revised from the standpoint of conserving biodiversity and provisions that newly restricted the capturing, killing, and wounding of animals designated by the Ministry of the Environment inside Special Zones of National and Quasi-National Parks as well as the extraction and causing of damage to the eggs of such animals in such locations were added.
In response, the "Procedures for the selection of animals to be covered by regulations on capture, etc. in Special Zones of national and Quasi-National Parks" and the "Policies on work to be carried out for the selection of designated animals" were formulated in April 2006 by the expert Panel for the Investigation of Measures for the Protection of Designated Animals . Designated animals were thereupon to be designated based on these procedures and policies.

4. Notes for capture regulations

In Special Protection Zones, the capture of and other actions affecting all animals (capture, killing, and wounding of specimens as well as the extraction and causing of damage to eggs) are prohibited pursuant to the Natural Parks Law.
In certain parts of Special Zones, the capture of and other actions affecting animals designated by the Minister of the Environment (designated animals) are prohibited pursuant to the Natural Parks Law.
To carry out such actions, you will need to obtain the prior permission of the Minister of the Environment or the governor of the relevant prefecture. Examinations are separately conducted and permission is granted on a limited basis for academic research and other purposes whose fulfillment is deemed to be required in the public interest.
Even in cases in which capture or other actions are not prohibited under the Natural Parks Law, such actions may still be prohibited under other statutes or according to the provisions of local public agencies.
Local Protocols with regard to the capture of and actions affecting animals have been developed by some regions. Please respect and comply with such local protocols.