With the deterioration of the habitat environment of living creatures and the destruction of ecosystems becoming increasingly serious concerns, more effective and rapid efforts to realize a world that people can live in co-existence with nature are needed. After the Aichi Targets adopted at COP10 in 2010, a new framework, GBF (Global Biodiversity Framework: Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework), was adopted in December 2022 that calls for stronger participation of corporations and financial institutions, based on the lessons learned from the failure to achieve the predecessor Aichi Targets. As frameworks for biodiversity preservation are strengthened inside and outside Japan, the role of companies is becoming increasingly significant, and systematic efforts are required to ensure that business activities are in consideration of biodiversity and to conserve biodiversity.
JVCKENWOOD Group has set the following biodiversity goals based on the basic environmental policy "JK Green 2030". JVCKENWOOD Group aims to achieve this goal through climate change response, effective use of resources, and other activities related to environmental conservation and management.
JVCKENWOOD Group recognizes the importance of minimizing the impact of business activities on biodiversity and tackling its preservation and pursues preservation activities in the neighborhoods of our business locations both in Japan and overseas in collaboration with governments, experts, and local residents.
Marking its fourth time participating this year, JVCKENWOOD Optical Electronics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (JKOT) has been actively engaged in social and environmental contribution activities. Eighty-seven JKOT employees participated in a reforestation project in Thap Lan National Park Management Area 4, planting 400 forage crops as part of a nature restoration and environmental conservation activities.
We involved in cleanup activities for the estuary of the Akagawa River in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. This year marked the 17th time that the Akagawa River estuary cleanup was held with the cooperation of the Yamagata Prefecture Health and Welfare Environmental Department Environmental Section and the NPO Partnership Office.
Aiming to help Yamagata Prefecture achieve its goal of creating a "Shonai coast Where we can walk barefoot on," 26 participants collected a total of 240 kg of trash, comprising 62 bags (160 kg) of burnable and 13 bags (80 kg) of landfill trash.
As another example of our community contribution activities, we are working to clean up Tobishima Island, where a large amount of garbage is washed ashore. In recent years, the problem of microplastic debris being washed ashore onto beaches has become more serious. JVCKENWOOD is contributing to the conservation of biodiversity by collecting the plastics that cause these issues.
JVCKENWOOD established biotopes (green land and wetland) at its head office and Yokohama Business Center in 2006 as “forest of coexistence” that serve as places of relaxation for customers and employees. Subsequently, in agreement with the spirit of the How Far Does a Dragonfly Fly Forum, an activity project under the Keihin Forest Development Business implemented by the Yokohama City Environmental Planning Bureau, we arranged our biotope in Dragonfly Pond. Also, as a company operating in the Keihin Seaside Zone, we are undertaking sustained environmental preservation activities together with local communities.
We continued to improve the pond and conduct surveys in FY2022, with a total of 12 employees participating in these efforts over a period of three days. We perform a survey of ecosystems at our business location every year. In our surveys conducted thus far, we have confirmed the existence of a total of 15 species and plants, including ferocious water bugs and bladderwort in addition to dragonflies. We will continue to perform monitoring surveys to preserve biodiversity as well as pursue activities to heighten the environmental awareness of employees.
In addition, the How Far Does a Dragonfly Fly Forum celebrated its 20th anniversary, and a commemorative panel discussion ("The Future of the Community as Seen through Dragonflies”) was held to review past achievements and create opportunities for more people to learn about the forum’s activities, in which we participated as a corporate member.
For details, see the website of the How Far Does a Dragonfly Fly Forum (Japanese)
Dragonflies collected
Memorial Event Tour
Also, since 2018, we have installed nest boxes for wild birds in trees in the biotope area. This year, nesting and hatching of chicks were observed, and evidence of successful fledging was confirmed.
By creating an appropriate environment for the ecosystem, we will continue to contribute to supporting local ecosystems and enriching the ties to it.
NEST BOX FOR WILD BIRD
Parent birds feeding chicks in nest box
Forest of coexistence