A Call for Help in Saving the Amami Rabbit
5/29/96
OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE
Akiko Domoto, a Member of the Japanese Parliament, makes an appeal for aid
in helping protect the Amami Rabit, a Japanease endemic species which is
threatened by development.
g.b.
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
/** biodiversity: 1148.0 **/
** Topic: a call for help in the AMAMI Rabit **
** Written 7:56 PM May 29, 1996 by yuriko in cdp:biodiversity **
From: Yuriko Hamamoto
SUB: A call for help in saving the Amami Rabbit
I am writing today to alert you to a very urgent threat to a precious
element of Japan's, and the world's, biodiversity. Today, construction of a
golf course is presenting an imminent threat to the survival of the
Endangered Amami Rabbit, a 50 million year-old species endemic to Japan.
The Amami Rabbit is a short-eared, black primitive species of rabbit which
is found nowhere else in the world but two islands in Japan, the Amami
Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. It's closest relatives live in Mexico and
South Africa. Listed in the IUCN Red Data Book as Endangered, it is also
(supposed to be) protected as a Japanese "Special Natural Monument".
In 1977 a survey revealed a population of 6000 rabbits. Today, there is
estimated to be as few as 1000 Amami Rabbits remaining in only three areas
of vital, high-density habitat. The primary reason for this dramatic
population decline is habitat destruction, mostly due to the development of
the Amami tourism industry.
In 1992 the Iwasaki Company announced plans to build a golf course on the
richest of these three remaining habitat. The proposed golf course will be
a 170 hectacre, 18-hole course located on a promontary overlooking the
Pacific Ocean.
Construction of the golf course would obviously destroy one the last
remaining Amami Rabbit habitat. Perhaps even more grotesque is the
prospect of the wholesale extinguishing during contstruction of the
population in the area. As the Amami Rabbit is nocturnal, during the day
when construction would occur the rabbits would be sleeping in their
underground burrows. Thus, the rabbits are likely to be buried alive under
the bulldozers clearing the land of flora and fauna.
The response of Iwasaki and the Kagoshima Prefectural government? That the
construction would be undertaken from the ocean pushing slowly inland, thus
allowing the rabbits to flee from the path of construction into the
surrounding forest.
Since the golf course plans were announced there has been a loud and
sustained protest by NGOs and concerned parliamentarians. However, even
action at the highest level of government has failed to stop construction.
On March 22, 1993 in the Budget Committee I questioned then-Prime Minister
Miyazawaa about the protection of the Amami Rabbit, stating: "At this
moment, the Amami Rabbit is in danger of dying out forever. The plan to
build a golf course in their habitat is proceeding [despite public outcry,
the Endangered status of the Rabbits and the lack of proper EIA]. These
rabbits are so rare that the Duke of Edinburgh made a special trip to Amami
to plead on their behalf. It is crucial that they be protected." He
promised that positive action would be taken.
Since then no positive action has been taken. Between 1993 and May 28 1996
I have raised questions in the Diet about the Amami Rabbit five times.
GLOBE Japan member Wakako Hironaka, during her tenure as Minister of the
Environment allocated budget to conduct a two-year, overall survey of the
Amami Rabbit population.
The Environment Agency attempted to survey the Iwasaki Golf Course land,
but was barred by Iwasaki. Instead, Iwasaki hired a private consultant to
conduct an EIA. The means and results of the survey were revealed,to only
"high level people". Finally, in March of this year the Kagoshima
Government, which has the final power to stop the construction, stated that
according to it's review of Iwasaki's survey results, the impact of the
golf course on the Amami Rabbit would be "limited".
The construction of this golf course is planned to start at any time. As
such we are putting out a call to national and international organizations
concerned about biodiversity and the welfare of animals.
Though we are still working inside Japan, we need help. Often,
international attention and outside pressure has a potent effect
on Japanese policies. We hope you will help us generate pressure to save
this endemic specie of Japan. The ancient Amami Rabbit is not just a
treasure of Japan, but of the world's biodiversity. I hope you feel
strongly enough about this atrocity to write the following officials and
urge them to stop this completely unneccessary construction and save this
precious, ancient animal of world heritage, the Amami Rabbit.
Sincerely, Akiko Domoto Member, House of Councillors Parliament of
Japan
ADDRESSES
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto 2-3-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100
Japan email: www@kantei.go.jp (he reportedly reads his email every day, so
please send email if possible)
Mr. Sukio Iwatare, Minister of the Environment 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-
ku, Tokyo 100 Japan Fax (81-3) 3508-0246
Mr. Yoshida Shigeru, Minister of Culture 3-2-2 Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100 Japan Fax: (81-3) 3595-2056
Mr. Tsuchiya Yoshida, Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture 14-50 Yamashita-cho
Kagoshima-shi Kagoshima Prefecture, 892 Japan Fax: (81-99) 223-5241 AND
(81-3) 5221-0410