| 2003 | The Ryukyu Islands are selected as a candidate site for natural World Heritage to be nominated by Japan. | |
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| 2013 | The Scientific Committee is established. | |
| 2015 | A preparatory sub-local meeting is held. | |
| 2016 | February | Added to the Tentative List of Japan as Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, the northern part of Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island. |
| April | The area of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park is expanded to encompass almost the entire island. | |
| September | Yambaru National Park is designated, including the northern part of Okinawa Island. | |
| October | The Regional Liaison Committee is established. | |
| November | Sub-local meetings are established. The draft nomination dossier is submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. |
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| December | The Regional Liaison Committee is held. The Comprehensive Management Plan is adopted. |
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| 2017 | February | The nomination dossier is submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. |
| March | Amami Gunto National Park is designated, including Amami-Oshima Island and Tokunoshima Island. | |
| October | IUCN is to make an on-site mission to the nominated property | |
| 2018 | March | The Regional Liaison Committee is held. |
| May | Advice on evaluation results by IUCN. | |
| June | Withdraw the draft nomination dossier from the UNESCO World Heritage Center. The Regional Liaison Committee is held. |
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| September | The Scientific Committee is held. | |
| December | The Regional Liaison Committee is held. The Scientific Committee is held. The Comprehensive Management Plan is revised. |
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| 2019 | February | The nomination dossier is resubmitted to UNESCO World Heritage Center |
| August | The Monitoring Plan is adopted. | |
| October | IUCN is to make an on-site mission to the nominated property. | |
| 2021 | May | Recommendation from the IUCN assessment results |
| July | World Natural Heritage registration |
For more detail about Scientific Committee, see “Scientific Committee”
For more detail about Regional Liaison Committee, see “Regional Liaison Committee”
For more detail about Nomination dossier and Comprehensive Management Plan, see “Nomination and Management Plan”
For more detail about Monitoring Plan, see “Monitoring Plan”