Ogasawara Prior to Becoming a World Natural Heritage Site

The World Heritage Convention is formally known as the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The convention establishes international cooperation and assistance to protect and preserve, on behalf of all of humanity, our cultural and natural heritage from the threat of damage and destruction. Adopted at the 1972 UNESCO General Assembly, the Convention was officially established in 1975. As of July 2017, there were a total of 193 signatory countries, with Japan signing on to the convention in 1992. World Heritage Sites are treasures that should be passed on to the next generation as assets that are indispensable to humanity.
　There are three varieties of World Heritage Sites: Cultural Heritage Sites, Natural Heritage Sites, and Mixed Heritage Sites, which include properties with a tangible shape. As of July 2017, there were 832 World Heritage Cultural Sites, 206 Natural Heritage Sites, and 35 Mixed Heritage Sites. In Japan alone there were 17 World Heritage Cultural Sites and 4 Natural Heritage Sites.
　To be inscribed as a Natural Heritage Site, a site must meet at least one of the following four criteria, stated in the "Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention." Natural landscapes, Topography/Geology, Ecosystems, and Biodiversity. (Note: There are six criteria for Cultural Heritage Sites).

The value of the rich and unique nature of the Ogasawara Islands was recognized in June 2011 when it was inscribed as the Ogasawara Islands World Heritage site. The Ogasawara Islands are Japan's fourth inscribed World Natural Heritage Site, after Yakushima (1993), Shirakami-Sanchi (1993), and Shiretoko (2005).
At the 35th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France on June 23, 2011, the Ogasawara Islands were recognized as a World Heritage site based on the Ecosystems evaluation criterion. In inscribing the islands, it was stated that, "[i]t is the combination of both the concentration of endemism and extent of adaptive radiation evident in the Ogasawara Islands which sets the property apart from other places illustrating evolutionary processes. When taking into account their small area, the Ogasawara Islands show exceptionally high levels of endemism in land snails and vascular plants." The islands were also nominated for the Topography/Geology criterion (as a place that has seen the only occurrence in the world of a marine island arc) and Biodiversity (for the islands’ large number of endemic species and globally rare species), however, the Committee did not recognize the islands for these aspects. The conservation management of the heritage site was evaluated with accolades for the large-scale and increasing investment in conservation, cooperation among numerous institutions, and the high level of enthusiasm and involvement of the area's residents.

The "Ogasawara Islands Management Plan" presents the basic policies for the conservation management of the islands and is one of the nomination documents. It was formulated in January 2010 by the joint signatures of representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, the Forestry Agency, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Ogasawara Village, as the organizations that control various institutions involved with the conservation management of the natural environment. To suitably manage the area of the Heritage Site, areas that are not subject to conservation, such as settlements and parts of the ocean waters, are also widely included, in addition to the areas that are subject to conservation.
　In addition, the "Ogasawara Islands Ecosystem Conservation Action Plan" (2nd edition, drawn up in March 2014), which states the priorities and order of short-term goals for the conservation of endemic species and the control of invasive species, was created. Even five years after the islands were inscribed, big changes had already taken place. Therefore, from 2016 to 2017, there were plans to consider revising the management plan and the action plan via cooperation and liaison at regional communication meetings, and according to the advice of the scientific committee.

• Finalizing the inscription of the Ogasawara Islands on the World Heritage List
  (June 24, 2013).
  At the 35th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held on June 19, 2013 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, the nomination of the Ogasawara Islands as a World Heritage Site was evaluated, and the Islands were inscribed on the World Heritage List.
  See the related link for a summary of the resolution.
• Evaluation results and recommendations of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on the inscription of the Ogasawara Islands as a World Heritage Site (May 7, 2013)
  In regards to the inscription of the Ogasawara Islands on the World Heritage List, the IUCN, which evaluates Natural Heritage Sites, determined that the Islands were to be inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List.
  The clear and global value of the process of biological evolution on the Islands was recognized.
  See the related link for a summary of the evaluation.
• On-site survey by IUCN (July 2 to 15, 2012)
• Submission of the nomination documentation for inscription of the Ogasawara Islands on the list of World Heritage Sites (January 26, 2012)
• See the related link for a summary of the nomination documentation.

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