Overview
The Ogasawara Islands (小笠原群島), also known as the Bonin Islands, are an archipelago of over 30 oceanic islands located 1,000 km south from the main island of Japan. In 2011, the Ogasawara Islands were declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO and includes the Mukojima Island Group, Chichijima Island Group, Hahajima Island Group, Kita-iwoto Island, Iwoto Island, Minami-iwoto Island, and Nishinoshima Island, totaling an area of around 6,360 hectares of land and 1,580 hectares of marine areas.
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Geologically, the Ogasawara Islands are crucial as they provide the rare opportunity to observe the phases of the development of an oceanic island arc through its large areas of exposed rock strata. Biologically and ecologically, the Ogasawara Islands display numerous highly endangered endemic species that have resulted from processes of adaptive radiation and speciation. Although the Ogasawara Islands are not as rich in flora and fauna as continental and mainland areas, its endemic ratio is very high due to the islands' ecological evolution apart from the mainland. Because the islands were never attached to a continent, animals and plants had to reach the islands by air or sea, causing select species to survive and evolve in the islands’ unique environmental niches. This has led to the islands’ nickname as the “Galapagos in the Orient.”
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However, the rich biodiversity of the Ogasawara Islands has been greatly threatened due to human disturbances and introduction of invasive species. Although ecotourism draws in 15,000 visitors annually and conservation efforts have been made by nonprofit organizations and the Japanese government, greater awareness and efforts must be made to conserve this unique and diverse region.
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