JP080
Mikurajima island


Country/territory: Japan

IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A4ii (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 2,058 hectares (20.58 km2)

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


Site description (2007 baseline)
Mikurajima, which is located about 200 km south-southeast of Tokyo metropolitan area, is a volcanic island with the circumference of 16 km. There are abrasion cliffs along the coastline with no beach. About a half of the island is dominated by primary forests of Castanopsis cuspdata trees. The forests have unique vegetation which includes both northern plants and the southern ones. Alpine plants are found from the area around 450 m above the sea level to the mountaintop, while subtropical plants are luxuriant below the 350 m level. This island has one of the largest breeding sites of Streaked Shearwater in the world, where about two million birds breed.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mikurajima island (Japan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mikurajima-island-iba-japan on 22/12/2024.