A private Japanese research institute has warned that the survey and construction process to assess the possibility of using Minamitori Island as a high-level radioactive waste burial site could cause the island to lose its intrinsic conservation value.
Minamitori Island, Japan's easternmost island in the southern Pacific Ocean, is currently being considered as a potential location for the disposal of hazardous radioactive waste. However, according to the institute's report, field surveys and infrastructure construction required for the project may severely damage the island's unique ecosystem.
The institute emphasized that Minamitori is home to many rare plant and animal species, including endemic seabirds and plants found only in this area. Intervention in the natural environment could disrupt breeding cycles, eliminate habitats, and reduce biodiversity.
This survey project is part of the Japanese government's long-term plan to find sites for storing high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. Minamitori Island is considered a viable option due to its remote location and sparse population. However, environmental researchers fear that conservation values may be traded off for short-term economic benefits.
