Title: Process of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park's Designation and its Relationship to Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park
Abstract:This paper shows the processes of designating Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park and Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park,and the relationship between them on the national parks designations and the sig...This paper shows the processes of designating Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park and Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park,and the relationship between them on the national parks designations and the significance of their designations as national parks.Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park was first designated in 1950 as a prefectural park. It was subsequently designated as a quasi-national park in 1965, and finally as a national park in 1974 along with the major part of the Sarobetsu-Genya Moor area. And the latter, Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park designation started with the Quasi-National Park Plan of 1971, at the same time as Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park designation was officially decided.As the result, the two designation processes were not directly connected. The Environment Agencys initial conclusion was that a new national park was unnecessary in the Long-Term Plan on Environmental Protection decided in 1977. And Kushiro-Shitsugen progress to a national park was accelerated after it was designated as Japans first Ramsar site in 1980. As consequences, both national parks designations reflect the evolution in the roles of national parks from initially that of protecting scenery, then to nature protection, and subsequently protection of ecosystems. Their designations can be linked with the priorities existing at the time. And Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park designation indicates the Agencys policy change.Read More