Preserving Satoyama: Ichikai Town Issues Ground-Breaking Ordinance to Protect the Grey-Faced Buzzard

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Ichikai Town in Tochigi Prefecture is a known nesting area for the grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus, or sashiba in Japanese), an Asian bird of prey. The town recently enacted an ordinance to protect the satoyama environment that serves as the nesting grounds of this migratory bird. 

Grey-faced buzzards spend their summers in Japan and other East Asian countries and winter in Southeast Asia. They nest in satoyama environments where forests and farmlands meet.

The ordinance that went into effect in April is the first in the prefecture to combine the conservation of satoyama environments and the protection of threatened wildlife. Penalties are included to ensure its effectiveness. 

'Home of the Grey-Faced Buzzard'

Every year in Ichikai, a town located in eastern Tochigi Prefecture with a population of about 11,000, spring and summer bring grey-faced buzzards. The birds nest mainly in the northern part of town near rice fields and rolling hills. 

Ichikai's grey-faced buzzard population density is the highest in the country, highlighting the richness of the natural environment.

As part of community development efforts, Ichikai has branded itself as the "Home of the Grey-Faced Buzzard." In 2019, the town hosted the first International Summit on Grey-Faced Buzzard. Representatives gathered from Okinawa's Miyakojima Island and Taiwan, both stopover sites on the bird's migration, and the Philippines, the bird's winter habitat. The meeting resulted in the Ichikai Declaration.

Degrading Farmland and Forests

The grey-faced buzzard population is declining. According to a survey by the nonprofit Goshawk Protection Fund, the number of nesting birds in the town has decreased by about two-thirds compared to the late 1990s.

Causes of this decline include the degradation of farmland and forests that serve as the birds' feeding grounds. Farming rice paddies in valleys, the bird's main nesting sites, has become difficult due to the difficulty of mechanization and the aging population of farmers. An increase in abandoned farmland has resulted. Meanwhile, solar power installations are on the rise, threatening biodiversity and scenic satoyama landscapes.

To protect the natural satoyama for future generations, the town formulated the ordinance to promote the conservation of both satoyama and grey-faced buzzards.

Outline of the Ordinance

The ordinance will designate areas for conservation, promote utilization of satoyama resources, and include protection of threatened wildlife. It will prohibit development activities across the board in areas of special importance, allowing the town to acquire ownership of private lands. In areas designated as important, development will require permission. 

Protections for threatened wildlife will include flora and fauna on the town's Red List. Capture of animals is to be regulated, and the town will carry out regular patrols.

Designation of important areas is planned for fall. The Tatara-numa Wetlands are expected to be designated a special conservation area. Several animal species, including the grey-faced buzzard, are to be designated as threatened wildlife.

Penalties for Violations

Following an initial grace period, the town will begin imposing penalties for any violations from October to ensure the effectiveness of the ordinance. Unauthorized capture of protected wildlife or fraudulent acquisition of development permits in important conservation areas will be punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to ¥500,000 JPY (approximately $3,100 USD).

The ordinance was proposed on the town council two years ago, but concerns about infringement of property rights in designation of conservation areas delayed it. It was resubmitted and passed in March of 2024.

Mayor Masaaki Irino expressed the town's aspirations:

"We are working to regenerate satoyama ecosystems and their treasure troves of life with the grey-faced buzzard as a symbol. Our projects must be based on the enthusiasm and pride of local residents and exchange with other cities. We aim to create specialty products, establish a regional brand, and attract income and people to our town."

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