YKK Center Park's Furusato-no-Mori (Hometown Forest) Is Designated Toyama Prefecture's First Nature Coexistence Site
November 07, 2023
Furusato-no-Mori (Hometown Forest), which was established within the Kurobe Manufacturing Center (Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture) of YKK Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / President: Hiroaki Otani), was designated a Nature Coexistence Site*1 by Japan's Ministry of the Environment. Of the 122 sites (in 35 prefectures) certified for the first half of FY2023, the first year of the program, two sites in Toyama Prefecture, including Furusato-no-Mori, were certified. The award ceremony was held in Tokyo on October 25.
The Kurobe Manufacturing Center is making efforts to encourage and advance coexistence with nature, as defined in the "YKK Group Environmental Vision 2050"*2. The goal is to create a "factory in a forest" envisioned by YKK founder Tadao Yoshida by planting 20,000 saplings of 20 species native to Kurobe City and restore the forests and waterside areas on the Kurobe River alluvial fan by the time of the company's 100th anniversary in 2034.
Elements That Contributed to the Designation
- Works toward the conservation of living creatures, informed by an understanding of the topography of the Kurobe River alluvial fan, the river environment, etc.
- Has implemented measures against non-native species and the genetic makeup of the area, such as banning the planting and release of non-native species for the purpose of genetic conservation
- Engages in independent and regular monitoring efforts in the form of biological surveys (once every four years) and tree surveys (once a year)
- Used as a site for environmental education
In August of last year, YKK also joined the "30 by 30 Alliance for Biodiversity"*3. The aim of the alliance is to establish a mechanism through which to achieve the international target of conserving at least 30% of land and ocean environments as healthy ecosystems. The designation of Furusato-no-Mori (Hometown Forest) as a Nature Coexistence Site is part of YKK's efforts toward this goal, and moving forward, the company will continue working toward the achievement of these international targets and the realization of a sustainable society.
※For *1～3 and overview about YKK Center Park Furusato-no-Mori (Hometown Forest) ,
please see the Appendix.