Ogawasara A World Heritage Site for the Future

On June 26, 2016, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government held an event at their offices commemorating five years since the Ogasawara Archipelago was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

A lecture was held on the wildlife, nature, tourism, and the image hat the government wants to promote for the Ogasawara Archipelago an area that has garnered attention in recent years.

1. Opening: Film footage of Ogasawara
   Lecturer: Representative of NHK
   Content: Giant squids, albatrosses, sperm whales, and the birds of the west islands, as well as images of the natural beauty of Ogasawara, and issues related to the area
2. Efforts to Protect the Heritage Value of Land Mollusk Species
   Lecturer: Dr. Satoshi Chiba Ogasawara Islands World Natural Heritage Scientific Council
   Content: The development of Ogasawara land mollusks, the dangers they face, and the efforts being made to preserve these animals that are the bedrock of the area's heritage value
3. Regional Cooperation Efforts to Protect Rare Species
   Lecturer: Dr. Kiyoshi Nakagawa, Director of the Tokyo Veterinary Medicinal Association
   Content: The efforts and results of measures against stray cats undertaken by island residents and the veterinary association in order to preserve the red-headed wood pigeon and the precious ecosystem of Ogasawara
4. The Value and Utilization of the Tourism Resources of a World Natural Heritage Site
   Lecturer: Mr. Tetsuya Matsuzaki, Representative Director of National Land CO., LTD (Ogasawara Tourism Information Center)
   Content: The value of the tourism resources of the Ogasawara World Natural Heritage Site, and the efforts to protect the ecosystem that the users of these resources must make
5. Goals that the Ogasawara World Natural Heritage Site should aim for
   Lecturer: Mr. Isamu Okouchi, Chair of the Ogasawara Islands World Natural Heritage Scientific Council
   Content: Measures necessary for passing on the heritage value of Ogasawara to future generations, and the ideal image of Ogasawara to be presented to the world

The mayors of the municipalities in which each of Japan's World Natural Heritage Sites (Shirakami-Sanchi, Yakushima, Shiretoko, and Ogasawara) are located gave presentations on the special traits, value, and the efforts made in each of their regions. Also at this session, the launching of the World Natural Heritage Site Collaborative Networking Association was announced, and discussion among the mayors of the municipalities that are home to World Natural Heritage sites helped to strengthen their cooperative relationship..

Exhibits on each of Japan's World Natural Heritage Sites (Shirakami-Sanchi, Yakushima, Shiretoko, and Ogasawara) and the regions in which they are located presented information about each site's appeal and value, as well as issues such as the problem of invasive species.