Key Biodiversity Areas

Bentenjima islet (15138)
Japan, Asia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Bentenjima islet
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.5500, Longitude: 140.9167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 0.1083
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Bentenjima islet is located 800 m off shore of Ohmasaki, the northernmost of Honshu. The distance between east and west of the islet is about 400 m, south and north is about 450 m, and the area is 9 ha with its perimeter of 2.7 km, and it is an uninhabited rocky islet with the highest height of 11 m. In the middle of the islet there is a flat area part of 10-12 m diameters. Colonies of Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii and Elymus mollis are found around this flat part, and this vegetation is 5-6 m in height leading to the shore via small cliffs of 3-4 m height.
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 HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal50
Grassland50

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesInvasive non-native/alien species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing