It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the orchid family that is endemic to the Ogasawara Islands and grows only on Hahajima Island.

It grows on the forest floor of evergreen forests and has spherical pseudocorms underground. During the flowering period, the flower stalks grow to a height of 40-90 cm and bloom beautiful white flowers.

It was classified as a National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 2004 and is listed as critically endangered in the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.

Only a small number of this species has been confirmed in the wild since the beginning of its discovery, and in recent years, these native stocks have hardly been seen. Currently, stocks propagated at Koishikawa Botanical Garden of the University of Tokyo are being replanted back to habitats on Hahajima Island, and more than 60 stocks are growing in multiple planting sites.

Factors for the decline include 1) shade by invasive plants, 2) feeding damage by non-native species such as Giant African land snails and rats, 3) deterioration of the environment due to drought and other climate effects, and 4) illegal collection for horticultural purposes, and there are concerns about the impact of a decrease in genetic diversity due to the small number of stocks.

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2004.

Major actions

• Development of propagation technology and preservation of stocks derived from autochthonous strains
• Propagation of seedlings to increase the number of individuals, planting in original habitats, implementation of artificial pollination, sowing tests, and so forth 
• Management of watering and shading nets for the purpose of maintaining and improving the growing environment

Major actions

• Individual protection with a barrier fence to avoid feeding damage by Giant African land snails and rats
• Felling and pruning of alien plants in places where the light environment has been limited owing to the pressure of alien plants such as Bishop wood
• To prevent the spread of infectious viruses adversely affecting orchid flowers, use of gloves and changing them for each individual flower when touching them

It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the chrysanthemum family that is endemic to the Ogasawara Islands and grows only on Chichijima and Anijima Islands.

It grows in dry rocky areas and blooms in autumn with small pretty yellow flowers.

In 2008, it was classified as a National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and is listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.　

In the field survey of 2021, 30 individuals were found on Chichijima Island, and there are about 150 individuals and more than 300 new buds found in Anijima Island.

The main cause of population decline is feeding damage by non-native species such as goats and rats. In addition, the collapse of habitats due to typhoons is said to have a direct impact on the decline of this species.

On Anijima Island, the number of new buds has increased since FY2017, and the number of individuals has increased, while on Chichijima Island, increasing the population number is a task for the future.

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2009

Major actions

• On Chichijima Island, where the population is small, the following efforts are conducted with the cooperation of the Koishikawa Botanical Garden of the University of Tokyo, which has been studying endemic plants of the Ogasawara Islands for a long time.
• Artificial pollination during the flowering season 
• Propagation tests such as sowing around habitats to help natural reproduction

Major actions

Anijima Island

• From 2006 to 2010, the eradication of feral goats was carried out and completed
• ・Dispersion of rodenticide to control the habitat density of rats (since 2006)
• Aerial application of rodenticide using helicopters (since 2008)

Chichijima Island

• Installing barrier fences to all populations in order to avoid feeding damage by feral goats and rats

It is a group of endemic land snails of the Ogasawara Islands currently inhabiting only Hahajima Island.

At first glance, it looks like a slug, but it is characterized by its unique appearance with a plate-like shell on top of the slug-like body. Adapting to the humid environment of the cloud forest in Hahajima Island, it is about to lose its shell looking like a jelly. It is an icon of the subtropical rainforest of Hahajima Island. It has a relatively short lifespan of about one year and spends most of its life on trees.

Genus Boninosuccinea consists of two species, and both species are national natural monuments. In 2021, they were classified as National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and are listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.

In addition to being susceptible to droughts, large typhoons, and aridification from climate changes, there are concerns that the habitat condition will deteriorate owing to the influence of recently introduced snail feeding planarians (Bipalium vagum).

As with the New Guinea flatworms, there are still no effective countermeasures.

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2022

Major actions

• Captive breeding techniques for ex-situ conservation are still being developed, advancing breeding technology in Hahajima Island
  *Although the breeding of Boninosuccinea ogasawarae has been successful since 2020 and its techniques have made steady progress, there are still lots of problems to be worked out such as adjusting the amount of food given and the frequency of humidification.
• Population restoration has been tested in some habitats to avoid regional extinction by releasing captive individuals to their original habitats

Major actions

• Experiments on reproductive system, growth speed, detailed eating habits, and efficacy of repellents using Bipalium vagum
• Monitoring of invasion status of Bipalium vagum and other planarians
• Application of pesticides and direct capturing of introduced Macrochlamys sp., which has recently been recognized as a new threat
• Hot-bathing of potted plants and/or soil attached seedlings brought from outside of the islands in order to prevent additional introduction of other planarians

It is a group representing the endemic land snails of the Ogasawara Islands.

It has a very hard shell and has evolved into different colors and shapes depending on the habitat, such as on trees or on the ground, leading to speciation which is still in progress. Because of species diversity and evolutionary process, it was recognized as one of the values of World Heritage.

All species of the genus Mandarina are national natural monuments, of which 14 are classified as National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. They are also listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.

On Chichijima Island, the population of endemic land snails has drastically declined. Currently, wild populations remain only in small areas of Chichijima Island and the islet of Tatsumijima Island. The reason for the decline is thought to be feeding damage caused by New Guinea flatworms.

Feeding damage caused by rats has been recognized even on uninhabited islands, but so far there has been no significant change in the population.

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2016
• A plan for population restoration of two Mandarina species was developed in 2020

*The Ministry of the Environment has started ex situ conservation of genus Mandarina since 2010

Major actions

• In the Breeding Lab of the Ogasawara World Heritage Centre, six species of genus Mandarina from Chichijima and Anijima Islands are bred in captivity.
• With the cooperation of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society, captive breeding on the mainland has been conducted (since 2017)
• Population restoration of M. hirasei and M. chichijimana to their original habitats of Tatsumijima Island 

Major actions

• Conducting various tests to develop controlling techniques for planarians such as searching for attractants and repellents which can be sprayed in the field
• To prevent planarians from being introduced, calling for the use of brush mats to remove mud when boarding and disembarking from the Ogasawara Maru and Hahajima Maru as well as non-native species removal devices installed at the entrance of trails on the islands 
• As a countermeasure against rats on the uninhabited islands, installing bait boxes filled with rodenticides to reduce rat population

⇒In areas where large-scale aerial application of rodenticides using a helicopter was conducted, a decrease in the number of rats and a recovery of the Mandarina population were confirmed

It is a wood pigeon endemic to the Ogasawara Islands and considered as a subspecies of the Japanese wood pigeon living in a region that stretches from the south of Honshu to the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

The body is colored black with a metallic sheen, while the head is a purple-red color. It lives in forests and feeds mainly on fruits and seeds. It is called “Akapoppo” among the residents.

It is a national natural monument and was classified as a National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is also listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.

Although the number of birds had decreased to about 40 in the past, the number seems to have recovered in recent years.

The main reasons for the decline include predation by feral cats, competition for food resources with rats, decrease in the number of trees it feeds on due to invasion of non-native plant species such as Bishop wood, and meteorological disasters such as typhoons.

It is important to protect the forests as its habitat and to reduce threats such as feral cats in their habitats.

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2006

Major actions

• Conducting surveys to understand the status of the population by attaching foot rings, habitat research during the breeding season, and so forth
• Preservation and maintenance of the Higashidaira Sanctuary of Akagashira-karasubto (Columba janthina nitens) Nature Watching Trail (since 2003)
• Promoting captive breeding at Ueno Zoo (since 2000) *First successful breeding in 2002
• Currently, Ueno Zoological Gardens and Tama Zoological Park hold a total of about 60 captive populations

Major actions

Chichijima and Hahajima Islands

• Feral cats are continuously captured by cage traps in order to reduce the impact of predation
   ⇒Captured feral cats are transferred to the mainland, where they are treated and trained with the cooperation of the Tokyo Veterinary Medical Association, then given to foster families who welcome them through animal hospitals belonging to the TVMA.
• In 2020, the Ogasawara Village Ordinance of Proper Husbandry and Management of Pet Animals was enacted, and it requires cats to be registered (i.e., wearing microchips and collars and receiving proper care)

It is a greenfinch endemic to the Ogasawara Islands. Compared to other greenfinches distributed mainly in East Asia, it is characterized by a slightly smaller body with a relatively large beak. The population inhabits the Hahajima archipelago and Minami Iwo-to Island and temporarily fly to Hahajima Island.

It was classified as a National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 1993 and is listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.

*This species has been considered to be a subspecies of passerine birds in the finch family, but it has been proposed to be an independent species due to genetic and morphological differences from the passerine family.

The current population among the Hahajima archipelago are about 100 breeding individuals. The major factor behind the population decline is considered to be the predation of eggs and chicks by rats. In addition, predation by feral cats and the reduction of food and water resources have also been pointed out as factors.

Since the number of individuals is already decreasing, there are concerns that damage such as that by typhoons will cause a rapid decline in the population and inbreeding depression (lowering fertility and viability owing to the breeding of related individuals).

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2021

Major actions

• Habitat monitoring such as installing cameras and conducting field surveys on islands nearby Hahajima Island 
• Attempt to breed in captivity so that captive bred individuals can be used to restore wild populations in the future

*There had been no cases of captive breeding of this species, but individuals of Chloris kittlitzi have been captured with attempts to breed them in captivity in Chichijima Island since 2021. With the cooperation of zoos belonging to the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums, breeding techniques using a closely related species, the gray-capped greenfinch, are also being developed.

Major actions

Hahajima archipelago excluding Hahajima Island

• Eradication of rats using rodenticide
• On Mukōjima Island, about 300 bait boxes with rodenticide were installed and rodenticides were sprayed

Hahajima Island

• Capturing feral cats in areas where Chloris kittlitzi fly during the non-breeding season

It is a tiger beetle endemic to the Ogasawara Islands and currently lives only on Anijima Island. It used to live on Chichijima Island, but it has not been seen there since 1937. 

Bare grounds with/without vegetation are used as its habitats.

It was classified as a National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in 2008 and is listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.

The number of Cylindera bonia living only on Anijima Island has been declining for unknown reasons since the 1990s, and the current population is in a critical situation.

Various efforts are being taken to stop the population decline possibly caused by 1) a decrease in the habitat environment due to the distribution of non-native plants, 2) the impact of predation by non-native species, and 3) climatic impacts such as drought and typhoons.

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2009

Major actions

• Constant habitat monitoring
• Ex-situ conservation with the cooperation of insectariums in the mainland (since 2010)
• Captive breeding on Chichijima Island after establishing breeding techniques in the mainland (since 2015)
• A test release of captive bred population to Anijima Island (2015)
• Continuous captive breeding at the Ogasawara World Heritage Centre and Itami City Museum of Insects as well as continuous release of captive bred population to Anijima island

Major actions

• In order to preserve the habitat of Anijima Island, elimination of non-native trees such as Bishopwood and Coastal She-oak
• Maintenance of bare grounds where captive population are released by elimination of herbaceous plants

On the Ogasawara Islands, there are five species of endemic dragonflies/damselflies (Boninafrion ezion, Indolestes boninensis, Hemicordulia ogasawarensis, Rhinocypha ogasawarensis, and Boninthemis insularis), and they can be seen on the uninhabited islands around Chichijima Island and the Hahajima archipelago. The time of occurrence varies depending on the species, but the adult dragonflies/damselflies mostly hatch between June and September.

Of these, four species, excluding Boninafrion ezion, are designated as national natural monuments, and three species, Indolestes boninensis, Hemicordulia ogasawarensis, Rhinocypha ogasawarensis, are classified as National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Moreover, all species are listed as endangered on the Red List of the Ministry of the Environment 2020.

Currently, all five species can be seen only on Otōtojima Island. There have been four species confirmed in Anijima Island except for Indolestes boninensis, and two species, Rhinocypha ogasawarensis and Boninthemis insularis, on Hahajima Island.

Factors for decline are thought to be drought caused by climate change and the impact of non-native species of animals and plants, and efforts are being made to eradicate non-native species and install artificial ponds.

• A plan for a conservation program based on the Species Conservation Law was developed in 2009

*Only for three species classified as National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: Boninthemis insularis, Hemicordulia ogasawarensis, and Rhinocypha ogasawarensis.

Major actions

• On Otōtojima, Anijima, and Nishijima Islands, where endemic dragonflies/damselflies have been confirmed, artificial ponds have been installed in various places on the island so that dragonflies can steadily breed
• Regular maintenance of artificial ponds (i.e., removal of fallen leaves)

Major actions

Otōtojima Island

• Eradication of bullfrogs feeding on dragonflies/damselflies and feral pigs trampling on their habitats has been completed
• Regular elimination of non-native plants around streams that dragonflies/damselflies inhabit

Hahajima and Anijima Islands

• Installing adhesive traps and fences to prevent the spread of green anoles feeding on insects