Request for Reversal of Development Policy for the Bibi River Basin, Lifeline of Hokkaido's Ramsar Wetland Lake Utonai – Japan's Three Major Environmental Conservation Organizations, Wild Bird Society of Japan, Nature Conservation Society of Japan, and WWF Japan, Submit Request to Hokkaido Governor

Crisis of development threatens the rich nature of the Bibi River basin, miraculously preserved. The Wild Bird Society of Japan, Nature Conservation Society of Japan, and WWF Japan (Public Interest Incorporated Foundations) have jointly submitted a request to the Hokkaido Governor, strongly demanding that deregulation of urbanization control areas in the Bibi River basin not be implemented. The wetlands and riparian forests remaining around the Bibi River, which flows into Lake Utonai, a Ramsar Convention* wetland, maintain one of the most abundant ecosystems in Hokkaido. It is an internationally important natural environment utilized by many migratory birds, including rare bird species. The Bibi River is also designated as a crucial area for biodiversity conservation, linked with Lake Utonai, in Hokkaido's 'Bibi River Natural Regeneration Project,' the 'Hokkaido Biodiversity Conservation Plan' (based on the 'National Biodiversity Strategy'), and the 'Tomakomai City Biodiversity Regional Strategy.' The Misawa area, including the Bibi River basin, has historically been restricted from development as an urbanization control area. However, following an interim review of the 'Tomakomai Metropolitan Area Urban Planning: Policy for the Maintenance, Development, and Preservation of Urban Planning Areas' formulated by Hokkaido, and based on the 'Misawa Area Land Use Policy' approved by the Tomakomai City Urban Planning Council, deregulation is moving forward to enable the construction of logistics warehouses, etc., prompted by the entry of a large-scale semiconductor factory. In response to this movement, which contradicts the conservation projects promoted by the national, prefectural, and city governments, the three environmental conservation organizations have submitted a request to the Hokkaido Governor, strongly demanding the reversal of the Misawa Area Land Use Policy to Tomakomai City, and that the deregulation of urbanization control areas in the Bibi River basin not be implemented. Separately, the Wild Bird Society of Japan will submit a similar request on the same day to the 'Hokkaido Urban Planning Council,' which will deliberate on the aforementioned policy. * To revert the policy to Tomakomai City for thorough review, as it may have serious impacts on rare birds such as Tancho cranes and migratory birds inhabiting the Bibi River basin, and to conduct sufficient scrutiny. * To publicly conduct comprehensive and careful deliberation by the Hokkaido Environmental Council, etc., regarding the results of public comments and their responses, given the importance of the regional natural environment. * To designate the miraculously preserved nature of the Bibi River basin as a Hokkaido Natural Environment Conservation Area or Environmental Green Space Protection Area. * To mandate community consensus building for development plans via ordinances, etc. The Bibi River is an extremely valuable new frontier for the rare Tancho crane. The Bibi River basin and its surrounding wetlands, grasslands, and riparian forests are rich in biodiversity, utilized by rare birds such as Tancho cranes, Steller's sea eagles, White-tailed eagles, and migratory birds like Whooper swans and Greater white-fronted geese. In particular, it is the westernmost habitat for the Tancho crane, which is designated as a National Special Natural Monument and a nationally rare wild fauna and flora species under a protection and breeding program, with a high possibility of future nesting. Tancho cranes utilizing the Bibi River Furthermore, in protection and breeding program plans, diversification from the eastern Hokkaido region is progressing to avoid infectious diseases, etc. The Bibi River basin, where winter food resources can be secured, is an extremely valuable habitat for Tancho cranes. There is strong concern that the loss of riparian forests due to the construction of logistics warehouses will lead to a deterioration of the habitat. About the Bibi River The Bibi River is a major river flowing into Lake Utonai, and it is a rare river nationwide that retains its pristine, naturally meandering form without straightened river improvement work. In these meandering channels, various fish and aquatic plants that prefer different environments (due to variations in water flow speed and depth) can inhabit and grow. The river area features diverse vegetation, including wetlands covered with reeds and riparian forests, which are utilized by various wild birds and mammals, including Tancho cranes, making it a highly biodiverse area. Additionally, the Bibi River, which retains its pristine river landscape, is used for eco-tours, such as canoeing downstream. The Bibi River, retaining its rare pristine form nationwide About Lake Utonai Lake Utonai was registered as a Ramsar Convention wetland of international importance by the Japanese government in 1991. It has also been selected as an Important Bird Area (IBA) based on international criteria and is a valuable location retaining natural environments that meet the criteria for participation in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) habitat network. The basin from the Bibi River to Lake Utonai retains the original pristine natural environment of the Yufutsu Plain, and various conservation measures have been taken. However, it is constantly exposed to development, such as surrounding industrial base plans and isolation due to new land use changes. Lake Utonai, an internationally important Ramsar Convention wetland *Ramsar Convention: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat Reference Material Document 1: Request to the Hokkaido Governor regarding 'Deregulation of Urbanization Control Areas and Future Conservation in the Bibi River Basin (Misawa Area)' https://www.wbsj.org/nature/opinion/20260424-bibigawa-hokkaido.pdf