Procedure and challenges of World Heritage nomination of Amami-oshima Island, Tokuno-shima Island, northern part of Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, the northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island were successfully inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites after an 18-year nomination process, beginning in 2003. The study highlights the challenges and procedural hurdles encountered during this lengthy journey, particularly focusing on the 2018 IUCN evaluation report's assessment of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for natural heritage criteria (ix). While the exact scientific insights or discoveries are not detailed, the research underscores the complexities of meeting international conservation standards and the rigorous evaluation processes required for World Heritage designation. The study serves as a case example for understanding the intricacies of global heritage nomination procedures.

YOSHIDA, M. (2022). 奄美大島・徳之島・沖縄島北部及び西表島の世界自然遺産登録の経緯とその課題. Journal of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture, 86(2), 92–95. https://doi.org/10.5632/jila.86.92