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U.S. Military Base in Okinawa Threatens Rare Dugongs

The U.S. and Japanese governments are planning to destroy the best remaining habitat of a unique and critically endangered marine mammal: the Okinawa dugong. This dugong, a relative of the manatee, is a rare marine mammal that feeds in the seagrass beds and coral reefs of Okinawa’s Henoko Bay. Fewer than 50 individual dugongs remain in an area described by the United Nations Environment Program as “the most important known dugong habitat in Japan.” If the U.S. military proceeds with its Camp Schwab construction plan this exceptional, rare animal will lose the best habitat it has left and begin its last slide toward extinction

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November 22, 2009

Subject:

Currently, the U.S. and Japanese militaries are planning to expand Camp Schwab near Henoko Okinawa by filling in large areas of biologically significant ocean habitat. This ocean habitat contains crucial seagrass beds immediately adjacent to an important coral-reef system off the north east coast of Okinawa; for the imperiled Okinawa dugong, these reefs and grass beds are critical habitat. Military expansion and construction activities adjacent to and on top of this biologically significant area will have devastating impacts on some of the best remaining habitat of the endangered Okinawa dugong. Without adequate habitat, the dugong faces extinction. The Okinawa dugong, a manatee relative, is a rare marine mammal that feeds in the seagrass beds and coral reefs of Henoko Bay. Since 1955, the dugong has been listed as a "Natural Monument" in Japan, and among native Okinawans, the dugong has long been revered as a culturally significant animal. Now, fewer than 50 individual dugongs may remain in an area described by the United Nations Environment Program as "the most important known dugong habitat in Japan." The Okinawa dugong is a biologically and culturally significant marine mammal whose home must be preserved among the corals and grasses of Henoko Bay. Further, the islands of Okinawa have been called the "Galapagos of the East" because they support such a vast diversity of life. More than 1,000 species of reef fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles, including the endangered hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtle, also live among Okinawa’s reefs and grass beds. Okinawa's bays and oceans’ plant and animal species stand to be profoundly harmed if the expansion of Camp Schwab proceeds in Henoko Bay. Please put a halt to this shortsighted plan. By reconsidering the expansion of Camp Schwab, you can help ensure that the Okinawa dugong and all biological treasures of Okinawa’s seas survive and thrive.
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Okinawa has been called the “Galapagos of the East” as the region’s surrounding bays and oceans are home to an amazing diversity of life.
The Kuroshio Ocean current brings tropical waters to the region’s bays and coral reefs, a warm current that helps sustain as many as 400 different species of coral and supports the nutrient-rich seagrass beds upon which the Okinawa dugong feeds. More than 1,000 species of reef fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles — including endangered hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtles — also live among Okinawa's reefs and seagrass beds.

Now, the U.S. and Japanese governments want to steamroll these unique animals and their home by filling in a large area of ocean near Henoko in order to expand Camp Schwab. And to expand this U.S. military base, drilling surveys are being conducted on and adjacent to Henoko’s coral reefs — and reef sections that are not damaged by the initial drilling will be damaged by the massive military construction project. If the military continues with the Camp Schwab expansion plans, critical dugong habitat will be destroyed.

Camp Schwab is located adjacent to and in Henoko Bay, and for years nonviolent citizens’ groups, led primarily by community elders, have peacefully blocked U.S. military expansion efforts there. But now, the likelihood of Camp Schwab’s expansion looms ever larger. On May 18, 2007, Henoko community members took to their kayaks and canoes to protest private, pre-construction drilling surveys in Henoko Bay. In response to this peaceful demonstration, the Japanese Coast Guard was called in to deter citizen demonstrators. Unfortunately, the approaching completion of some drilling surveys brings expansion of Camp Schwab nearer.

In September 2007, represented by Earthjustice, the Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Japan Environmental Lawyers Federation, Dugong Network Okinawa, Save the Dugong Foundation, and several Okinawan individuals filed a lawsuit in federal district court in San Francisco against the U.S. Department of Defense base expansion plan.

In January 2008, a federal judge ruled against the Defense Department, finding that it had violated the National Historic Preservation Act by failing to take into account the effects of the construction on the dugong. However, the court has not issued a final ruling requiring the Department of Defense to consider impacts or avoid or mitigate any harm. Therefore, this is a critical moment. As drilling surveys continue in Henoko Bay, more and more dugong habitat is being harmed. Without adequate habitat to sustain it, the Okinawa dugong is headed down the path of extinction. Please, let your voice be heard.

Please speak out today on this important issue. Send a message to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and their counterparts in Japan’s government urging them to halt the expansion of U.S. military base Camp Schwab in Okinawa.