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Paddy Fields Registered under the Ramsar Convention for the First Time
Lake Kabukuri-numa and its surrounding paddy fields, together to cover 409 hectares, at a northern section of Miyagi prefecuture were registered on November 8 in the List of Wetlands of International Importance as designated marshland under the Ramsar Convention. It is the first case of not just the marsh but also its surrouding paddy fields, a sphere of human activity, was assigned to be conserved.
Lake Kabukuri-numa is known as seasonal habitat for Magan [white front geese] and
HishiKui [bean geese], both designated as natural monuments. It is said that some 40 thousand birds or about half the population of migratory birds that fly over to Japan in winter stay in this area during the season. Registration at this time included the adjacent "paddy fields" for preservation because they were considered necessary for the birds to feed on sod and fallen ears of rice, in addition to the marsh itself that serves as roost for them.
True that, since long, there have been damages in such forms as crops pecking and levees bored by migratory birds. However, the town office has taken pains to secure understanding of its citizens by enacting town regulations and also by offering to compensate for the crop damages. Some farmers even rose to take advantage of the birds' droppings by keeping the fields flooded during winter period so as to realize paddy culture without using chemical spray or synthetic fertilizer. Rice is sold with the image of safe food as a product of symbioisis with migratory birds.
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The Ramsar Convention
A short name for The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, which aims to promote the conservation of wetlands, and their flora and fauna. |
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