Lower Yoshinogawa river (15071)
Japan, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Lower Yoshinogawa river
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.0833, Longitude: 134.5833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 6
Area of KBA (km2): 20.72856
Protected area coverage (%): 16.69
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Yoshinogawa river is the largest river in Shikoku, originating from Kamegamori (in Mt Ishizuchisan system) with the total stream length of 193 km and width at the mouth of the river of 1.3km. The lower Yoshinogawa river belongs to Tokushima Prefecture. This site extends from the both sides of the river and from the estuary up to Nadabashi bridge. Surrounding the wide water area, there are sports grounds, farm fields, paddy fields and forests of Salix on the both sides of the river. There also exist sand bars, tidal flats and reed beds in the area. Sandy tidal flats which form islands in the river mouth area expand to a maximum of 60 ha at low tide. And around the reed beds along the river, mud flats of a sludge nature are formed. Among benthic creatures, crabs are most abundant in terms of the numbers of species and individuals. Many large shorebirds come to the site to feed on abundant crabs.
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 Neritic | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Only in the future |