JP088
Kazan-retto islands


Country/territory: Japan

IBA criteria met: A2, A4ii (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 3,255 ha

Wild Bird Society of Japan
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2015 very unfavourable high low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2007 baseline)
The islands in Iwohretto are still active. They are a chain of islands on the Pacific Ocean about 1,200 km south of Tokyo metropolitan area, consisting of three islands- Kitaiwohto, Iwohto and Minamiiwohto. Iwohto is a flat island and 23.16 km2, and the highest point is at about 169 m. While Minamiiwohto is 3.54 km2, of which the highest peak is at 918 m, and Kitaiwohto is 5.57 km2, of which the highest point is 792 m. The island has precipitous cliffs. Kitaiwohto was inhabited before the World War, but not after the War. Leucaena leucocephala forests mainly dominate. There are natural ponds and marshes on the north part of Iwohto island, which are seldom among Ogasawarashoto islands.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kazan-retto islands (Japan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kazan-retto-islands-iba-japan on 22/11/2024.