Amami Oshima Golf Course Development Issue - October 1996
A 36-hole golf course was planned for 130 hectares of land in Sumiyomura, northern Amami Oshima, with a total budget of 5 billion yen, with the aim of attracting 120,000 tourists and creating more than 150 jobs annually. However, environmental groups and residents applied to the Kagoshima District Court for a provisional injunction to halt development because the area included habitat for the endangered Amami rabbit (estimated at 500 to 1,000 animals). The clearing of 50 hectares of forest caused soil runoff, and there were concerns about contamination of water for agricultural use. Some residents hoped for economic development, but there were also strong voices prioritizing nature conservation, and opinions were divided in the community. The company proposed downsizing to 18 holes and establishing an environmental fund of 10 million yen per year. Ultimately, the plan was suspended and re-evaluation proceeded in accordance with the prefectural environmental protection ordinan
ce.
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