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Kikai Island's plant community to be listed as national treasure
With regard to "Plant Community on Elevated Coral Reef of Kikaijima Island" in Kikai town, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Chairman: Ryohei Miyata) submitted an application for approval as a national natural treasure, on November 15, to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
The plant community is located along the Araki-Nakazato Seaside Walking Trail in the southwest of Kikaijima Island. The area forms a terrace from the shoreline to a plateau approximately 20 metres above sea level, which was created as a result of the elevation of coral reef—along which a sequential zonal distribution of vegetation to the coastal forest can be observed. In addition, though it's located at the northern limit for raised coral reef, it has a colony of diverse plant communities in the vast area of 18 hectares, making it a valuable place.
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＜タイトル＞
喜界島の植物群落が国宝になる
＜第１パラグラフ＞
With regard to...：・・・に関して　　　elevated coral reef：隆起サンゴ礁　　　submitted ~ treasure：天然記念物に指定するように答申した
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Is located...：・・・に位置している　　　The ~ terrace：一体は段丘を形成している　　　plateau：台地　　　approximately：約　　　above ~ level：標高　　　as ~ of...：・・・の結果として　　　along ~ observed：（段丘）に沿って沿岸地樹林までの連続した植生の退場分布が見られる　　　In addition：加えて　　　the northern limit：北限　　　a ~ communities：多様な植物群落の集まり　　　a vast area：広大な面積　　　making ~ place：（前述のことが）（動植物群落を）貴重なものとしている