Key Biodiversity Areas

Tobishima and Oshakujima islands (15279)
Japan, Asia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Tobishima and Oshakujima islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.1833, Longitude: 139.5333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 70
Area of KBA (km2): 2.80337
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Tobishima islet, located 39 km off the northwest of Sakata port on the Sea of Japan, is an islet with perimeters of around 12 km, composed of terrace plains, coastal lowlands, and abrasion platforms. It is warm due to the Tsushima Current that flows near the islets, Tobishima islet is covered with evergreen broadleaf trees such as Machilus tunbergii.
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/Supratidal100

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesInvasive non-native/alien species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherOther impactsOngoing
Energy production & miningRenewable energyOnly in the future
Geological eventsEarthquakes/tsunamisOnly in the future
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOngoing
PollutionGarbage & solid wasteOngoing
Natural system modificationsOther ecosystem modificationsOngoing