Yaeyama islands (15288)
Japan, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Yaeyama islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.3707, Longitude: 123.9304
Area of KBA (km2): 585.76771
Protected area coverage (%): 71.20
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Yaeyama Islands archipelago is in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and are a part of the greater Ryukyu Islands archipelago. Broadleaf evergreen forests and associated mountain streams support a diverse set of subtropical and tropical flora and fauna, many threatened and endemic.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known population of Nidirana okinavana, Odorrana supranarina, and Odorrana utsunomiyaorum. The Japanese Woodpigeon and Ryukyu Green-pigeon trigger KBA Criterion B2 and an additional six birds, four reptiles, two mammals, two fish, two amphibians, and one invertebrate meet legacy KBA criteria and are in need of reassessment against the Global Standard.
Manageability of the site: This site was identified as an IBA/KBA in 2004, and access to the original manageability rationale is no longer available.
Delineation rationale: Delineation follows the terrestrial boundary of the Yaeyama Island group.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 32 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 32 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 32 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Soil erosion, sedimentation | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the future | |
| Geological events | Earthquakes/tsunamis | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |