Establishing a Reserve for a Threatened Salmonid in a Working Forest in Japan

We have made substantial progress on filling key research gaps and providing guidance on conservation activities related to Sakhalin taimen Parahucho perryi through their limited range in the Russian Far East and Northern Japan.  The species, one of the largest salmonids in the world, is recognized as threatened by various authorities, including the governments of Russia and Japan, and the IUCN.  Through a precedent setting agreement involving Oji Paper (a private timber company in Japan), Itou no Kai (a local conservation organization), and the Wild Salmon Center (an international NGO), a protected area has been created in the in the Sarufutsu River in the Soya Region in Hokkaido, Japan.  The reserve, consisting of 2660 hectares, is the first protected area established on private lands in Japan for the express purpose of aquatic biodiversity conservation.  The protected area consists of 30 m “no cut” riparian buffers composed of mixed hardwood and conifer forests and extensive forested flood plain habitat.  As part of the agreement, the Sarufutsu Itou Conservation Council has been created to help develop a conservation action plan and implement conservation activities in the reserve.  We report on the key milestones reached to finalize this important agreement, and progress on planning and implementing activities to conserve this enigmatic species.