Yakushima Island
by Siria Mariangeli and Valeria Mariani
Yakushima Island
Located in the interior of Yaku Island, at the meeting-point of the palaearctic and oriental biotic regions, Yakushima exhibits a rich flora, including ancient specimens of sugi (Japanese cedar). It also contains a remnant of a warm-temperate ancient forest that is unique in this region.
Site features
The most attractive feature of Yakushima Island is its mountains. There are over 39 mountains with peaks higher than 1,000 m with Mt. Miyanoura at the top of the list as the highest mountain in Kyushu.
Especially in areas over 1,600 m , the flowers of Pieris japonica and Rhododendron Yakushimanum Nakai blossom and color the landscape from April to June.
The island also features the awesome forest landscapes of giant trees.
Moreover it is characterized by some vegetation from both subtropical and cool temperate zones which continues to survive
THE CRITERIA
Criterion IX: to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
WHEN ?
One fifth of the island is registered as a World Natural Heritage Site of Natural Beauty. The site was designed as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
WHY ?
To conserve and use biocultural diversity.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TOURISM ON THE AREA
The number of tourists visiting Yakushima Island increased after it was inscribed on the World Heritage List. The island is visited by 300,000 tourists every year. In the last 10 years, the number of visitors to Jōmon sugi has increased three-fold.
This boom has led to an increase in the number of nature guides on Yakushima Island.
NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF TOURISM
- Tourist are slowly damaging the site: many tourist walk outside marked paths, leaving footprints and ruining the vegetation .
- In addition, tourists leave behind them much trash, such as water bottles, pieces of paper, food and so on.