4 wetlands in Japan run for Ramsar Convention

Four wetland areas in Japan have been selected as candidates for recognition under an international treaty for wetlands conservation, the Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday.

Japan's Environment Ministry on Wednesday recommended to its Central Environment Council's wild animal subcommittee that the areas be included as candidates for the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The four wetland areas in Japan are expected to be officially included as recognized sites at the meeting for the contracting parties to be held in June in Uruguay.

The four wetlands chosen as Ramsar sites are: the Hinuma area in eastern Ibaraki prefecture that is home to the rare Steller's sea eagle; the Yoshigadaira group of wetlands in Gunma prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, that has a natural environment formed by volcanic activity; and the Higashiyoka mudflat and Hizen-Kashima mudflat, both in southern Saga prefecture.

The ministry also decided to substantially expand the recognized area of waters of southern Okinawa prefecture's Kerama Islands, which are already included in the treaty.

The Ramsar Convention is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971. Presently there are 168 contracting parties, up from 21 initial signatory nations in 1971. The state parties meet every three years as the Conference of the Contracting Parties.