Ecotourism in the Ogasawara Islands

Ecotourism

The island regions of Tokyo are home to precious nature, including diverse plant and animal life, landforms rich with variation, and exceptional scenic landscapes that can be found nowhere else in the world. However, some of this nature is beginning to suffer as a result of human activity such as excessive visitation, and in other areas within the island region, the people of Tokyo have insufficient opportunities to interact with and grow close to nature.
To deal with these issues, in July 2002, the Tokyo government established unique guidelines for the preservation and appropriate usage of the nature of the Ogasawara Archepelago, based on the Island Ecotourism System. The Ogasawara island of Minamijima and the Sekimon area of the island of Hahajima were designated as the first areas for the advancement of nature preservation.

Ogiike, on Minamijima

Some of the plants on Minamijima have been harmed as a result of tourism, and as a result, soil and sand have been washed out into the sea. This has a negative effect on the natural environment. Plants that are not native to Minamijima have also been observed growing there. On the other hand, in the Sekimon area of Hahajima, there is a great deal of nature remaining, which can provide visitors with the opportunity to understand the wonder and the importance of nature.
The local government of Ogasawara has entered into agreements regarding the appropriate usage of and rules regarding these areas for the advancement of nature preservation. Based on these rules, a new system for utilizing the appeal of nature to contribute to the development of the area while also preserving and enforcing appropriate usage of our natural resources was established on April 1, 2003. This system is called Tokyo Metropolitan Ecotourism.

Island Ecotourism System

Revegetation of the Ogasawara Archipelago

Overview of Minamijima

Sekimon

Overview of MinamijimaIn the southwest marine area of Chichijima, diastrophism has resulted in resedimentation of the karst landforms created by the erosion of calcareous soil by rain and other forces, and the submerged karst landforms have expanded. On Minamijima, which is one of the most famous examples of karst topography, you can experience a variety of unique scenery. You can view lapies (sharply etched pinnacles of limestone), white sand beaches, and coves.
Large parts of the island are also used as breeding grounds for many seabirds, such as boobies and shearwaters, and green sea turtles lay their eggs on the beaches of Ogiike. Chichijima is also home to endangered plants such as Ogasawara azami (Cirsium boninense) and Ixeris longirostrata.

Overview of the Sekimon Area of Hahajima

The Sekimon Area of Hahajima is home to raised karst landforms marked by the unique unevenness of limestone, as well as to limestone caves. This area is also especially cloudy and humid, even compared to other parts of Ogasawara. As a result, primeval nature still remains.
Combined with the limestone soil in the area, this climate makes the Sekimon area one of the few places that many types of endemic plant life can grow. It is also the only place in the world where the extremely rare Sekimonnoki and Sekimonnuraiso can be found. The Sekimon area is also an important habitat for subspecies of birds unique to Ogasawara, such as the red-headed wood pigeon. You can also find a variety of insects and endemic land snails in this area.

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