Plant observation event
International Center for Island Studies, Amami Station Suzuki Eiji Suzuki Eiji
http://cpi.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/index-j.html http://cpi.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/AmamiStation/- china
- amami
- yoron
- yamato
- uken
- setouchi
- tatsugou
- kikai
- tokunoshima
- amagi
- isen
- wadomari
Background and objectives of activities
The Amami Islands were registered as a World Natural Heritage site due to their high biodiversity. However, even if it is said that there is a diverse range of living things, it is difficult for beginners to identify the species, and it is difficult for ordinary people to feel that diversity for themselves. Since the Amami Branch Office was established in 2015, we have held outdoor plant observation events and indoor explanatory meetings every year, with the aim of providing local people with basic knowledge about plants so that they can feel the diversity of plants and become more active in the conservation of the World Natural Heritage Site.
Summary of Activities
From 2015 to February 2024, there were 21 plant observation events on Amami Oshima, 10 on Tokunoshima, 2 each on Kikaijima and Okinoerabujima, 1 on Yoronjima, and a total of 36 events, with a total of approximately 600 participants. In addition to outdoor plant observation on Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima, we also set aside time for indoor lectures before and after the fieldwork, so that participants could gain knowledge that could not be gained through outdoor observation alone. We also created a PDF guide to representative Amami plants, which can be downloaded from the branch office website.
Expected Benefits
In the Amami Islands, where there are no universities, I think that having university lecturers explain the plants is a great help in expanding educational opportunities. Also, increasing the number of people with knowledge about plants will also help to protect the richness of the land's flora.