We started collaborative research to protect and contribute to a recovery in endangered species of fish in the Lake Biwa and Yodogawa River water systems.
We supported the “Field Museum Initiative” in the tropical Amazon forests promoted by the Kyoto University Wildlife Research Center and the National Amazon Institute in Brazil.
As a social contribution project to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the company’s founding, reforestation activities were carried out for about seven years in cooperation with WWF, and employees planted trees.
We have been supporting climate prediction research related to climate change since 1991, when the University of Tokyo’s former Climate System Research Center was established.
Mangrove Planting Project with Uken Village of Amami Oshima Island
Amami Oshima Island, a remote island located in the southernmost part of Kagoshima Prefecture, was registered as a World Natural Heritage site in July 2021 in recognition of the diversity of life that inhabits and grows there.
Since 2014, Uken village has been involved in tree-planting activities using seedlings of Kandelia obovata*1 grown by local elementary school students as an initiative to protect and nurture this irreplaceable nature with pride by the children. ITOCHU agrees with the purpose of the project and has been supporting the tree-planting activities since 2021, with a view to contributing nature positive*2 and generating blue carbon credits.
Kandelia obovata is a species of plant that comprises the mangrove forests found in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures in Japan.
Nature Positive is the concept of putting nature, including biodiversity, on a recovery track.
Map of Uken Village, Amami Oshima Island
Tree planting with local elementary school students (2021)
Edateku Island (left) planting mangroves
Effects of Mangroves
Mangroves are called the “cradle of the sea,” and on Amami Oshima Island, Creatures such as mud crabs and barred mudskippers inhabit the mangrove ecosystem. Mangroves are known to absorb a large amount of CO2 per unit area as their densely growing rootlets constantly repeat a process of extending and dying, the fallen branches and leaves become peaty and accumulate, and high-density carbon is isolated in the soil. For this reason, mangrove forests are attracting attention as a climate change countermeasure and are one of the “blue carbon ecosystems*”.
* Blue carbon refers to carbon sequestered in marine ecosystems such as seaweed beds and shallow water, which was presented and named as a new option for sink measures in a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in October 2009. Marine ecosystems that sequester and store blue carbon include seagrass beds, seaweed beds, wetlands and tidal flats, and mangrove forests. (Cited from the website of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)
Nurturing the Next Generation of Youth through Nature Experiences
Tree planting by children
Since 2021, when ITOCHU began providing support, we have also been participating in tree-planting activities for local elementary school students. We hope that the children will develop a desire to cherish nature in order to pass on a rich environment to the next generation.
ITOCHU Corporation newspaper advertisement
In June 2023, we produced a newspaper advertisement for our company with the cooperation of elementary school students in Uken Village who participated in tree planting. The ad won the Excellence Award in the Government Public, Foreign Government, Trading Company and Logistics category of the 72nd Nikkei Advertising Awards.
Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration
Commemorative photo at the industry-government-academia collaboration agreement signing ceremony
On September 17, 2023, Uken village, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL), and Sophia University signed a partnership agreement to promote environmental conservation and regional development in Uken village. Sophia University and JAL launched a joint initiative in Uken Village in 2022 to build a model for achieving regional revitalization through both environment and tourism (the Amami Model), and will collaborate with mangrove planting. By utilizing their respective human and physical resources and expertise, the four parties will work to promote Uken’s goal of a zero-carbon city and the conservation and restoration of biodiversity, as well as to build a symbiotic relationship between nature and people, create new human flows, and achieve sustainable regional revitalization.
As this collaboration initiative, a mangrove planting and nature culture experience tour has been conducted. Organized by Japan Airlines, ITOCHU employees and their families and Sophia University students etc. participate in the tour. We will continue to improve this tour and contribute to the promotion of afforestation and other activities.
As Ex-Situ Conservation of Kandelia obovata, we have been displayed Kandelia obovata seedlings in Tsukuba Botanical Garden of National Museum of Nature and Science. Please click here for this Initiatives.
With support for mangrove plantations at its core, the project aims to generate synergies in environmental conservation, regional development, and growth of future generations.
Collaborative Conservation Project for Rare Freshwater Fish with Shiga Prefecture and Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Museum
Analysis in the Freshwater Fish Breeding Room in the Lake Biwa Museum
ITOCHU has been undertaking a collaborative project with Shiga Prefecture and the Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Museum since 2022 to conserve the endangered Ayumodoki fish, with the aim of preserving the environment in the area where ITOCHU was founded. Lake Biwa is one of only approximately 20 ancient lakes in the world, and home to more than 1,700 species of flora and fauna, including over 60 endemic species. It is also an important migratory site for waterfowl and is a registered wetland under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The Lake Biwa Museum breeds generations of endangered rare freshwater fish such as Ayumodoki. Approximately 35 species of Japanese freshwater fish are being bred and preserved in captivity at the Conservation and Breeding Center and breeding facilities in the Aquatic Exhibition; some populations are potentially extinct in their natural habitat. Continuing to preserve these species will serve as ex-situ conservation of rare freshwater fish in Japan, and it is an important initiative in anticipation of their future return to the wild.
Research Data for Breeding by Artificial Insemination of Ayumodoki Fish at the Lake Biwa Museum
Subject
Activity
Unit
2022
2023
Targets after 5 years
Ayumodoki
Breeding for individual maturity
Full length (mm) (Average)
Target
80
80
Targets by 2024: Emergence of fertile mature individuals (10 individuals) and establishment of breeding methods for maturity*2
Achievement
-
89
Degree of obesity*1 (Average)
Target
-
1.8
Achievement
1.83
1.79
Mature population
Target
-
10
Achievement
0
58
Breeding by artificial insemination
Cumulative number of breeding fry
Target
100
200
150-200 breeding fry maintained at all times
Achievement
0
0
Average length after 6 months (mm)
Target
30
30
Achievement
0
0
Value obtained by dividing body weight by body length cubed and multiplying by 100. A measure of maturity.
For the time being, the goal is to produce 10 breeding mature individuals and to establish breeding methods for maturity.
Reducing Food Loss through the Donation of Processed Chicken Products
We are working to reduce food loss by donating surplus inventory generated in the course of handling processed chicken products to certified NPOs that support the needy, and provide meals to those in need.
Lunch box with donated chicken
The arrangement of bento dishes
Hunting World’s Wildlife Conservation Activities
Protecting Endangered Species of the Borneo Elephant The facility of Borneo Elephant Sanctuary
Hunting World, a luxury brand deployed by ITOCHU, has been using a logo with the motif of a young elephant without its tusks since the foundation of the brand in 1965. While serving as a symbol of freedom and revival, it also represents the challenge of looking toward the future in terms of the protection of endangered species. It contains the founder’s love and respect for nature. Hunting World has been supporting a biodiversity conservation activity being promoted by an NPO called the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) since 2008 to support the realization of coexistence with nature as called for by the founder. The brand plans and sells charity goods and then provides 1% of those proceeds to the BCT. This helps with the funds to purchase land for “Green Corridor Project*1” and the costs to protect Borneo elephants that have gone astray in plantations. The brand independently acquired the land in the “Green Corridor Project” zone with its assistance funds up to that point in the fall of 2011 to create the Hunting World Kyosei no Mori No.1 (Symbiotic Forest No.1 of Hunting World). Furthermore, the brand has continued support activities and has now acquired the Hunting World Kyosei no Mori No.4 (Symbiotic Forest No.4 of Hunting World). In 2019, the brand started supporting “Grateful Repayment Project*2” promoted by BCT Japan, which supports BCT. These donations have also helped with the funds to establish the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary, a facility for protecting and temporarily rearing injured Borneo elephants and to pay for food to keep Borneo elephants protected alive.
Green Corridor Project: This is an activity to conserve biodiversity. The land between forest protection zones and forest reserves are purchased back. Divided forests are then connected to create a movement route for animals.
Grateful Repayment Project: This is an activity to protect and temporarily raise Borneo elephants that have lost their places of life.
Project for Protecting Green Turtles, an Endangered Species
With the aim of conserving biodiversity, ITOCHU supports conservation activities for the green turtle, which is listed as an endangered species in the Ministry of the Environment Red Data Book, through the certified NPO Everlasting Nature (ELNA). ELNA was established in 1999 with the aim of conserving the marine life in Asia and the surrounding marine environment, and is an organization that has received certification as an NPO from Kanagawa Prefecture. Thanks to ELNA’s 24–hour conservation activities, the number of nesting sites of green turtles on the Ogasawara Islands is gradually increasing with repeated increases and decreases.
In addition, as the accommodation for volunteers staying in Chichijima Island for conservation activities was aging, we supported the construction of a new accommodation facility with improved living environment and convenience, and completed a unit house in May 2020.
Green Turtles, an Endangered Species (Photographed on the Ogasawara Islands)
Employees Participate in Conservation Activities
Donated a Unit House for Volunteers to Stay
Project Data Monitoring the Spawning and Post-hatching Mortality of Green Turtles in the Ogasawara Islands
Unit
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2024 Compared to the Previous Year
2024 Compared to 2000
Survey Scale
Number of Surveyed Coasts
Coast
Chichijima Islands
30
30
30
22
22
100%
Hahajima Islands
10
10
10
7
7
100%
Mukojima Islands
10
10
-
8
8
100%
Total Number of Surveys Conducted
Times
172
202
182
167
187
112%
Total Survey Personnel
Person
692
934
957
798
922
116%
Results
Number of Surveyed Green Turtle Nests
Nest
Chichijima Islands
1,700
1,200
1,700
1,400
1,700
121%
378%
Hahajima Islands
400
330
300
280
500
179%
Mukojima Islands
28
33
-
30
40
133%
Number of Surveyed Post-hatching Nests (Conducted only on Chichijima Island)
Nest
1,200
930
1,120
761
1,100
145%
Baby Turtles Returning to the Sea (Conjecture)
Head
55,000
44,000
56,000
48,000
70,000
146%
Escape Rate (Number of Escaped Turtles / Number of Eggs)
%
36
29
34
35
42
120%
Reviews
The Increasing Trend of Green Turtles in Ogasawara (Conjecture)
-
Stable with no significant increase or decrease since 2017.
Future population projections
-
The estimated number of juvenile turtles produced in Chichijima Islands is approximately 51,200/year. The estimated annual number of surviving turtles (surviving to maturity) is 128 turtles/year.
Estimated based on an escapement rate (average in Chichijima Islands from 2017-2023) of 32% and a hatching juvenile survival rate of 0.25%.
Figures are approximate due to unpublished data. Table based on ELNA activity report (Japanese Only).
Supporting Climate System Research at the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
The Climate Symposium (Dec. 2018)
The Division of Climate System Research, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo advances research into climate systems through numerical models and the analysis of observational data, and engages in enthusiastic research with the goal of giving back to society through those findings. ITOCHU Corporation has sponsored this mission since the founding of the University of Tokyo’s former Climate System Research Center in 1991, and has continued to support its research.
Click here for the website of Division of Climate System Research, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo.