Yakushima, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993 under the Natural Properties section, is famous for ancient specimens of Yakusugi trees (Japanese cedar). These include Jomon-Sugi, with trunks that can measure up to 43m in diameter. These trees are claimed to be some 7,200 years old, and could possibly be the oldest plants on Earth. Yaku Island is located south of Kagoshima, and is shaped like a circle. With a shoreline of approximately 130km, it is home to roughly 1,300 species of flora, including some 40 endemic species. The subtropical to cool-temperature zones contained in the island has led some to call Yaku Island “the Galapagos of the East.” With its unique ecosystem and landscape, and as an invaluable asset to our planet, Yakushima needs to be preserved and maintained as a World Heritage site.