JP144
Shirakawa estuary


IBA Justification

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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor EN winter (2003) present A1, A4i
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus LC passage (2003) present A4i
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus LC passage (2003) present A4i
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes LC passage (2003) present A4i

IBA Conservation

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 assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2015 moderate low very low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat -

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Marine Intertidal good (>90%) moderate (70–90%) moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%) No management planning has taken place Some limited conservation initiatives are in place very low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
2013 Common fishery right area(Kumamoto) 共同漁業権区域 (VI) 90

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shirakawa estuary (Japan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shirakawa-estuary-iba-japan on 25/12/2024.