• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.5 no.6
• /
• pp.64-71
• /
• 2002

This study aimed to provide data for establishment of resource management system of Iriomote Island in Okinawa Japan. Nature resource management system of Iriomote Island can be categorized into eight stages which are equivalent to regional development stages. 1) Networking among local people, tourists, researchers, tour operators and government authorities enhanced collection of resource data. 2) On the early stage, resource data were available only to researchers and government authorities. From the third stage of this system, however, local people were also involved in resource investigation, so they became to well recognize the values of their local resources. 3) On the sixth stage, data on unfamiliar local resources and attractions became to be known to people by real-time data collection and data provision services. The tourist number gradually increased and their visitation patterns were dispersed into different sites and seasons. In addition, some tourists also participated in resource investigation and they were likely to visit the place again. 4) To achieve successful ecotourism development, it is necessary to establish a management system with a feed-back process to identify, evaluate, use and protect the resources.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.229-239
• /
• 2015

The southwestern islands of Japan, especially southward from Amamioshima Island, have distinguished sets of nature and culture. However, various problems are arising on those islands. This report first introduces island characteristics as well as, their status briefly. Then it introduces conservation efforts. Since nature and culture are closely connected in the island system, conservation of the set of nature and culture is essentially important. From this point of view, this report focuses on two efforts. The first example is the effort for designation of a new national park with a new concept of "environmental culture type" and "ecosystem management type" in the Amami Gunto Islands. This effort is a new challenge to focus on the importance of cultural aspects. The second example is the unique effort of the national park visitor center to conserve as one set of integrated nature and culture with an alliance of all stakeholders in Taketomijima Island, Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. The visitor center serves not only visitors, but also islanders. These two cases are good models that suggest hints for future conservation measures.