Two wetlands should be added to the list of wildlife preserves with the aim of registering them under an international convention on wetlands to be held in Spain in November, the Environment Ministry's Central Environment Council decided Thursday.
Miyajima Numa, located in Bibai, Hokkaido, and the Fujimae tidal flats, off Nagoya, are to be designated National Wildlife Protection Areas, bringing the number of such areas to 56.
The two sites are also slated to be registered at the triennial meeting of parties to the the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and protected accordingly, ministry officials said, adding that both are important areas for migratory birds and water fowl. Currently Japan has 11 wetland areas protected and registered under the Ramsar Convention and has promised to double this number by 2005.