The isles of Taketomi, between their jungle climes and large reef network sprawling between them, from a uniquely endowed nature environment whichi plays host to rich variety of flora fauna particular to its subtropical locatin. Collectively situated quite remotely from mainland Asia and individually separate from each other by vast expanses of ocean, the life formas of each island have evolved in isolation; this is what has earned its reputation as a treasure trove of endemic species. Virgin forests and mangroves provide environments for species such as the Iriomote wildcat, golden-headed turtle(Cuora flavomarginata,also known as a"snake-eating turtle"in Mandarin), and the crested serpent eagle, which have managed to survive here thanks to their habitat's peaceful isolation. Sekisei Lagoon, an officially designated national marine reserve spanning the waters between Ishigaki and Iriomote, is home to about 400 species of coral.

Taketomi's main agricultural products include sugar cane, rice, vegetables, pineapples, mangoes, and other tropical fruits. However, the aging population of farmers and the shrinking pool of successors to their work have developed into a serious concern for the future of the industry. Although its agricultural infrastructure has been developed to a limited extent, many farms are still prone to droughts owing to the shortage of irrigation facilities, leaving tasks to secure sufficient water for agriculture to be addressed in the coming years. In the decades ahead, switching to more productive, water-efficient crops or promoting labor saving via mechanization may be necessary.

Taking advantage of the subtropical climate, ranchers are able to graze beef cattle at low cost year-round.

Taketomi is surrounded by ocean close to many productive fishing hubs among the well-developed coral reefs.
Its current challenges are establishing new fishing ports, as well as development of aquaculture(a.k.a fish farming) to combat overfishing.