Editing Okinawa Prefecture (section)

===Ecology===
The [[dugong]] is an endangered marine mammal related to the [[manatee]].<ref name="CBD">{{cite web|title=Lawsuit Seeks to Halt Construction of U.S. Military Airstrip in Japan That Would Destroy Habitat of Endangered Okinawa Dugongs|url=http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/okinawa-dugong-07-31-2014.html|publisher=Center for Biological Diversity|access-date=August 2, 2014|date=July 31, 2014|archive-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803070141/http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/okinawa-dugong-07-31-2014.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Iriomote Island|Iriomote]] is home to one of the world's rarest and most endangered cat species, the [[Iriomote cat]]. The region is also home to at least one [[endemism|endemic]] [[pit viper]], ''[[Trimeresurus elegans]]''. The islands of Okinawa are surrounded by some of the most abundant coral reefs found in the world.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 5, 2013 |title=Establishing World-Class Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring in Okinawa |url=https://www.oist.jp/news-center/press-releases/establishing-world-class-coral-reef-ecosystem-monitoring-okinawa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302155239/https://www.oist.jp/news-center/press-releases/establishing-world-class-coral-reef-ecosystem-monitoring-okinawa |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=February 20, 2016 |publisher=Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coral Reefs |url=http://en.okinawastory.jp/learn/blue_ocean/coral/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302135347/http://en.okinawastory.jp/learn/blue_ocean/coral/ |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=February 20, 2016 |publisher=Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau}}</ref> The world's largest colony of rare blue coral is found off [[Ishigaki Island]].<ref>{{cite iucn|title=''Heliopora coerulea''|page=e.T133193A3624060|author=Obura, D.|date=2008|access-date=November 11, 2021|author2=Fenner, D.|author3=Hoeksema, B.|author4=Devantier, L.|author5=Sheppard, C.|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T133193A3624060.en}}</ref> The [[sea turtle]]s return yearly to the southern islands of Okinawa to lay their eggs. The summer months carry warnings to swimmers regarding venomous [[jellyfish]] and other dangerous sea creatures.

Okinawa is a major producer of [[sugar cane]], [[pineapple]], [[papaya]], and other tropical fruit, and the [[Southeast Botanical Gardens]] represent tropical plant species.