Petition Fwd: Stop building USmilitary helipad and save the Okinawa forest!

* Fwd from Corazon Valdez Fabros on Feb. 15, 2011


Petition: Stop building USmilitary helipad and save the Okinawa forest! (click)
Target: Mr.President Obama
Sponsored by: Sumiko Uda
Dear Mr.President Obama,

Okinawa people need your help.
Japanese government starts destroying the forest for building the US helipad,
without investgation of Redlisted animals.


Please tell Mr.Kan to stop destroying Okinawa forest.


There is Jungle Warfare Training Center of United States Marine Corps (7,500 ha) in the area called Yanbaru %u2013 Northeast mountain side of Higashi and Kunigami village, Okinawa. Subtropical natural forest and mountain stream remain, and the area provides habitats for over 4,000 species of wildlife. 11 animals and 12 plants are peculiar to the Yanbaru area. A large number of Threatened Species are listed in the Red List, 188 species in Okinawan Red List, and 177 in the Red List of Environment Ministry. Jungle Warfare Training Center and the Yanbaru Forest around the center have quite important natural environment and biodiversity including numerous endemic, endemic subspecific, and threatened species.


%u3000Northern half of the Jungle Warfare Training Center is scheduled for retiring to Japan. However, the construction of 6helipads (75m in diameter) and roads are required in return. If the helipads are constructed and military exercises carry out, it is considered to have serious adverse effect on forest and the wildlife living in the area.


Okinawa People call for the cancellation of helipads.


Natural environment and the wildlife living in the Jungle Warfare Training Center are of considerable value as World natural heritage. IUCN urged both Japanese and American governments to consider other alternatives, including Zero Option (option of no constriction), also to set up a protected area and management action plan for Okinawa Woodpecker and Okinawa Rail in the years of 2000 and 2004. The government should also call off the helipads constriction plan to the security and tranquil life of the people who lives in Takae, Higashi village,
situated next to the helipads.