Report No.230507
Vol.23 No.5 January 2006

NEWS

- Environment -

Helping Nipponia nippon (Temminck) Return to Wild Life

Four government ministries and agency including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Ministry of Environment finalized a joint set of measures on November 26, which will work to consolidate environment for habitation of Nipponia nippon. MAFF will secure feeding grounds by keeping water over set-aside paddy fields and the Forestry Agency will promote preservation of Japanese red pine, i.e. trees suitable for nest building. The idea is to realize release of Nipponia nippon back to nature in 2008 on the island of Sado, Niigata prefecture, by consolidating paddy fields, rivers and wood land in a joint efforts of the concerned ministries and agency. 

MAFF, the Forestry Agency, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) conducted an environment survey in 2004 in the city of Sado, and picked up five areas as candidates suitable for the release of Nipponia nippon back to nature. 

The survey checked the amount of the stork's natural food available by season such as loaches and frogs and found that food was in short supply during snowy winter season. Upon this finding, MAFF decided to keep water over set-aside paddy fields through winter period to provide feeding ground for the birds. This will be done by keeping water in deeply scooped corners of paddy fields to increase egg laying points for gibel and frogs. Furthermore, fish ways will be constructed to connect cannels and fields for loaches etc. to move from one place to another. 

The Forestry Agency will work to preserve trees of Japanese red pine, Konara [white oak] and zelkova. It will also designate areas within radius of 700 - 800 meters of the nesting point and will care not to do forestry works in the areas during nesting period of April to June. 

MLIT will turn banks and beds of five rivers on the island back to nature to help increase the population of aquatic creatures. The Ministry of Environment will guide these efforts with an aim to have 60 birds of Nipponia nippon settle in wild life by 2015. 

Japan has successfully bred Nipponia nippon donated from China in 1999. The flock grew in size to 80 birds, good number to try and start releasing them to nature. MAFF says "The ministries join hands to restore eco-system of wood lands and habitats adjacent to human habitation. For this purpose, cooperation of farm households are also called for (the Rural Development Bureau)."

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