Animal Conservation. In comparison with vegetation protection, measures concerning animal conservation have been inadequate in natural parks, because the Japanese Natural Park System initially aimed to protect landscapes and plants regarded as important constitutients of landscapes. Capturing animals was restricted only in special protection zones, while the collection of plants was prohibited in total special zones. XXX set up a committee to study how to protect animals in national and quasi-national parks in response to growing interest in preserving biodiversity. As a result, a bottom line on animal conservation was set up. The main role of national parks is to protect animal habitat. Some species, which require urgent conservation and high efficiency conservation activities, are preferentially protected against capture. Three species of sea turtles and six species of insects were protected against capture in specific areas in January 2006. Now XXX has begun studying conservation measures for protecting insects which live in secondary grasslands and are extremely threatened. Some animals are rapidly increasing and affecting the ecosystem. For instance, increasing numbers of Japanese deer are changing natural environments where they live. Expanding feeding grounds, declining snowfall and absence of natural enemies has led to the growth of the deer population. They need high habitat density and exert great effects on the natural environment. In fact, wetland vegetation, alpine plants and forest vegetation have all been damaged by them. XXX takes responsibility for protecting the ecosystem from such increasing animal populations in national parks. Local governments owe it to local communities to protect agriculture and forestry from the damage caused by such population increases. MOE and local governments are required to make efforts cooperatively. Under the sea, an outbreak of crown of thorns starfish between the 1960s and the 1980s damaged coral reefs. The large outbreak was brought under control after the central governement and local governments carried out extermination efforts. However, the starfish are still found in high densities around Okinawa and the Amami Islands. They are continuously monitored and exterminated. Serious damage is caused as well when coral is attacked by Drupella fragum, found under the sea around the Japanese mainland.
