Lakes Komuke and Shibunotsunai (15004)
Japan, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Lakes Komuke and Shibunotsunai
Central coordinates: Latitude: 44.2500, Longitude: 143.5167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 9.8253
Protected area coverage (%): 98.81
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lake Komukeko consists of three major water bodies, and the largest part is connected to the sea by an artificial stream. Vast wetlands appear when tide is low. The sea and the lakes are divided by a coastal sand bar. Salicornia europaes is pretty in autumn on the lakeshore. The lake is surrounded by reed beds and outside of the reed beds are farmlands and woodlands. Two low water rivers flow into the lake. There is a floodgate at the entrance of Lake Shibunotsunai, but when there are storms, there is seawater intrusion into the lake. The lake is also surrounded by reed beds and farmlands.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |