Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2004 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus | LC | passage (2003) | present | A4i |
| Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus | LC | passage (2003) | present | A4i |
| Saunders's Gull Saundersilarus saundersi | VU | winter (2003) | present | A1 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2004. The most recent assessment (2015) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2015 | near favourable | medium | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | - | |
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Marine Intertidal | good (>90%) | moderate (70–90%) | near favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Biological resource use | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Pollution | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | very low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Common fishery right area(Kumamoto) | 共同漁業権区域 (VI) | 93 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kumakawa estuary (Japan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kumakawa-estuary-iba-japan on 21/01/2025.