Mikurajima island (15041)
Japan, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Mikurajima island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.8667, Longitude: 139.6000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 850
Area of KBA (km2): 20.55055
Protected area coverage (%): 99.30
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mikurajima, which is located about 200 km south-southeast of Tokyo metropolitan area, is a volcanic island with the circumference of 16 km. There are abrasion cliffs along the coastline with no beach. About a half of the island is dominated by primary forests of Castanopsis cuspdata trees. The forests have unique vegetation which includes both northern plants and the southern ones. Alpine plants are found from the area around 450 m above the sea level to the mountaintop, while subtropical plants are luxuriant below the 350 m level. This island has one of the largest breeding sites of Streaked Shearwater in the world, where about two million birds breed.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Forest | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |