Policy / Systems / Technology

March 12, 2004

 

The 'Association to Protect Northernmost Dugong'

Keywords: Ecosystems / Biodiversity Government NGO / Citizen Policy / Systems 

The existence of Dugong (Dugong dugon) in Okinawa, once believed to be extinct due to post-war overhunting and development, was confirmed along the east coast of Okinawa Is. in 1998. Okinawa Island is the main island in Japan's southernmost archipelago. Although this species is in danger of extinction, with an estimated population in this area of less than 50, in July 2002 the Japanese government decided to build a huge 2,500-meter-long US military air base by landfilling a reef off the coast of Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa.

The Naha Defense Facilities Administration Bureau, responsible for constructing the air base, has started a series of technical surveys of the site to prepare guidelines for the environmental impact assessment. Among these, a geological survey to analyze bedrock strength is of utmost concern; it will have an enormous impact on the ecosystem because boring at 63 sites and seismic exploration using sound waves will be required in and around the reef.

The "Association to Protect Northernmost Dugong," as its name suggests, was established to protect Dugongs in Okinawa, the northernmost habitat of the species. It has submitted a petition calling on the government to withdraw the air base construction plan, and it has set up a secretariat to promote an "International Petition to Protect the Dugong in Okinawa," and has already collected almost 10,000 signatures from all over the world. Several other targets will be actively pursued such as: 1) Request the government to halt the technical surveys and take specific measures to protect Dugongs, 2) Establish an international Dugong-protection network in anticipation of the 1st Conference on Marine Protected Areas, to be held in 2005 and 3) Focus on environmental education for the protection of Dugong as well as conservation of their habitat.



Posted: 2004/03/12 09:20:48 AM
Japanese version

 

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