Development Threatens Bibi River, Lifeline of Ramsar Wetland "Lake Utonai" -- Wild Bird Society of Japan Submits Request to Tomakomai City to Withdraw "(Tentative) Misawa District Land Use Policy"
The Wild Bird Society of Japan opposes a development plan for the Bibi River, the water source for the Ramsar-listed Lake Utonai. They have submitted a formal request to Tomakomai City to withdraw a land use policy that would enable the construction of semiconductor-related facilities, aiming to protect the habitat of rare birds.
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- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 23:45
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 15:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 19:58 (292h 28m after Collected)
The Bibi River, which flows into the Ramsar Convention wetland Lake Utonai, is a vital water source, truly its lifeline. The rich natural environment, including the remaining wetlands and riverine forests around its basin, supports the habitat of many wild birds, including rare species (such as the Red-crowned crane, White-tailed eagle, and Chestnut-eared bunting) and migratory birds like the Whooper swan and various geese and ducks, making it an internationally important natural environment that must be protected.
The area around the Bibi River has been protected from development as an "Urbanization Control Area," preserving its natural environment. However, "deregulation" is now being pursued to allow for development.
The Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ), which has been working for many years to conserve the natural environment of Lake Utonai and its surroundings, has submitted a request (Reference 1) to Tomakomai City, which compiled the deregulation policy, strongly urging for its withdrawal.
Land Use Deregulation and the Bibi River Crisis
In line with the interim review of the "Tomakomai Area Urban Plan: Policy for Maintenance, Development, and Conservation of the Urban Planning Area" formulated by Hokkaido Prefecture, Tomakomai City has compiled a "(Tentative) Misawa District Land Use Policy" for the Misawa district, which includes the area around the Bibi River along National Route 36. While construction has been restricted in the Misawa district until now, this policy includes deregulation to allow for the construction of logistics warehouses and offices related to semiconductors, triggered by the advance of a large-scale semiconductor factory in Chitose City. If this deregulation is approved, there is a high risk that the rich natural environment of the Bibi River area that has been preserved until now will be developed.
●Withdraw the land use policy, including deregulation, as it may affect rare and migratory birds inhabiting the Bibi River basin.
●When considering the land use policy, ensure public hearings and information sharing with citizens and stakeholders, and change the system to include natural environment experts in the council.
●The land use policy contradicts the "Tomakomai City Biodiversity Regional Strategy," which stipulates the conservation of the Bibi River, and therefore this strategy must be adhered to.
This policy was approved in a single deliberation by the Tomakomai City Planning Council on January 21, 2026, without adequate prior explanation or opportunity for public comment. As the Governor of Hokkaido has authority over Urbanization Control Areas in principle, the matter is now at the stage of deliberation by the Hokkaido government. Hokkaido solicited "public comments" on this matter from March 11 to April 10, 2026, and our society submitted ours on March 23.
The Wild Bird Society of Japan will continue to lobby relevant parties for the conservation of the Bibi River.
About the Bibi River
The Bibi River is the main river flowing into Lake Utonai and is a rare example in Japan of a river that retains its original, meandering form without having been straightened by channelization. This meandering course creates variations in water flow speed and depth, allowing fish and aquatic plants that prefer different environments to thrive. The area around the river has reed wetlands and riverine forests, providing various environments suitable for wild birds and mammals, as well as diverse vegetation, making it a place of extremely high biodiversity. It is also an important wintering and habitat for Red-crowned cranes in the central Hokkaido area. The Bibi River, with its pristine river landscape, is also used for eco-tours such as canoeing. The Bibi River is one of the important rivers that make up the Ramsar Convention wetland Lake Utonai.