A Qualitative Exploratory Analysis of Ecological Integrity for Safeguarding World Natural Heritage Sites: Case Study of Shiretoko Peninsula, Japan

Despite their protected status, many UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites (WNHS) face severe anthropogenic stress. A qualitative study of the Shiretoko Peninsula, Japan, reveals that its ecosystems have not fully recovered from 20th-century disruptions and now confront new threats, such as tourism development and infrastructure expansion. The research, which synthesizes scientific literature with monitoring data on Blakiston’s Fish Owl—a keystone species—highlights the urgent need for restoring lower trophic levels, streams, and forests while curbing road and facility construction. These findings underscore the necessity for WNHS managers to implement measures that offset anthropogenic stress on ecological integrity (EI) and integrate site management with surrounding landscapes to preserve fine-scale heterogeneity.

Chakraborty, A., & Takenaka, T. (2019). A Qualitative Exploratory Analysis of Ecological Integrity for Safeguarding World Natural Heritage Sites: Case Study of Shiretoko Peninsula, Japan. Heritage, 2(1), 898–919. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2010060