CSR

Third Stakeholder Dialogue

The Fujikura Group has been implementing biodiversity conservation measures, including planting native flora to create the biotope "Fujikura-Kiba Millennium Woods" and formulating its own guidelines on biodiversity conservation. Further, in 2013 we formulated the Group's long-term biodiversity vision "Roadmap 2030" and began examining what the Group should do to conserve biodiversity. To move forward with the long-term vision, we will conduct specific activities, soliciting opinions and recommendations from experts in the field.

　

The Fujikura Group formulated its long-term vision for biodiversity in 2013, ahead of other companies. We would like to conduct specific activities to achieve this long-term vision named "Roadmap 2030" as a forerunner.

Biodiversity generally refers to the wide variety of living organisms, which are mutually connected both directly and indirectly. Before starting this dialogue meeting, could you explain what biodiversity means so that all participants can share the definition of the term?

In response to increased concerns about global environmental problems, the so-called Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992, leading to the adoption of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity by the international community. This marked the start of international initiatives for biodiversity conservation.

Over several billions of years since the birth of life on our planet, organisms continued in their evolution to adapt to changes in the environment, and now a wide variety of creatures can be found all over the Earth. Moreover, through the interactions of air, water, soil, and other environmental factors the planet sustains, diverse ecosystems have formed. Biodiversity refers to the differences in these ecosystems as well as between and within species (diversity of species and genes).

Our lives are supported by the richness of biodiversity, which provides us with benefits including food, raw materials, climate regulation, natural landscapes, and unique cultures. Presently, however, biodiversity is being destroyed due to human activities and threats such as species extinctions and loss of habitat. We must curb this trend as much as humanly possible.

For future generations to enjoy the blessings of biodiversity, all members of present day society should comply with relevant rules and cooperate to protect biodiversity for the creation of a sustainable society where the blessings will never be exhausted. To this end, a range of entities, including companies, local governments, NGOs, and NPOs are required to participate in activities to conserve biodiversity. In particular, companies are expected to deliver biodiversity-friendly products and services in cooperation with consumers and various other stakeholders, and encourage consumers to change their lifestyle for the creation of a sustainable society where people can live in harmony with nature.

　

Fujikura Group companies are present across Japan and many of them are located on land that is not very rich in greenery. What kind of biodiversity conservation measures can these companies conduct under different local conditions, including different climates?

You can implement a range of biodiversity conservation measures not limited to creating a satoyama nature park. You can do something for biodiversity even in places that are not rich in greenery. For example, if you create a miniature "paddy field" in a small container within the premises of a plant, you can provide dragonfly larva and other aquatic organisms with a habitat. This is also a wonderful biodiversity conservation activity. Or you can create a "green curtain" and let children observe the insects that are attracted to the curtain as a part of education on biodiversity. I am sometimes asked, "Are we allowed to collect insects?" and I think collecting insects will give children an opportunity to recognize the importance of life and help them cultivate sensitivity. For example, in Gunma Insect World, kindergarten kids and elementary school students can borrow insect collecting nets and magnifying glasses to observe insects. I would like you to plan a range of events, such as an insect collecting event for children during summer vacation. It is important to make the events "joyful and useful," including providing participants with the joy of learning and knowing along with other mental satisfaction.

If it is joyful, you can continue doing the activity and expand the scope of the activity in cooperation with other activity groups.

　

In "oadmap 2030," we plan to create satoyama nature parks within the premises of our plants. Fujikura has four plants, some of which are rich in greenery, while others are not. The biodiversity conservation measures implemented by the plants will of course differ depending upon whether they are rich in greenery or not. I would like to ask your opinions about the biodiversity conservation activities that the plants rich in greenery can conduct and how the company can create satoyama nature parks at the plants in a manner that is joyful for employees and their families.

At the Sakura Plant, green space accounts for 20% of the land, most of which surrounds the plant building. In particular, in the southeastern part of the premises, the geography and trees before the construction of the plant have been left intact. In this zone, we have a pathway to manage the greenery and plan to transform it into a recreation trail.

The Suzuka Plant was constructed on land that used to be a community forest. However, about 30% of the eastern part of the premises is conserved as green space, where seeds brought by birds grew into trees and where several braces of pheasants live. We also sometimes see Japanese raccoons and foxes in the area.

Both the Sakura and Suzuka Plants have extensive green spaces, which were left untouched from when the plants were first constructed, and you can create satoyama nature parks in these spaces. The Sakura Plant has a hilly green space in the southeastern part of the land, where you can create a park that provides wonderful natural scenery. Also, there is a public road in the forest area adjacent to the playground located in the northwestern part of the premises. How about installing signboards, including those showing the names of local trees, alongside the road to develop it into a place where you can observe birds and green plants? The road is adjacent to residential areas, and citizens can enjoy nature when passing through. This could become the talk of the local community.

The Suzuka Plant has a water channel and a water source in the green space located in the eastern part of the land, which are useful for attracting animals. The land on which the plant was built is indeed suitable for creating a nature park. The plant has grassland surrounded by trees, which can be used as is, or you can plant trees in areas of the grassland that are not effectively being used. For example, how about holding an event to plant acorns to create a wooded area? You can invite employees and their families and also local citizens and elementary school students to participate in such an event, and can gradually expand the target of participants as you gain experience holding more events.

You should, however, place first priority on safety when holding events in which employees and their families participate, such as an event to create a nature park or a nature observation path. Also, you need to choose a place where you can easily monitor the activities to prevent crimes, and must establish an emergency response system in preparation against any incidents or disasters.

Thank you very much. I would also like to ask your opinions about the measures that can be implemented at the Numazu and Ishioka Plants, which are not rich in greenery.

The Numazu Plant is located in an urban area, and only 7% of the land is green. We have greenery at the entrance space and on the softball playground, and also, the plant building is surrounded by a green belt that is several meters wide, where grass and shrubs are planted.

The Ishioka Plant is located in an industrial park. Around the front gate of the premises, the fence is set back about five meters from the road, and trees are planted in the space. We have grassland and shrubs here and there within the premises. We also conserve grassland within the parking lot. We are thus making efforts to increase the amount of greenery.

The Numazu Plant has a square in the center of the premises, where employees can refresh themselves during lunch time. You can plant native flora at a corner of the space, and attach name tags to green plants and flowers to stimulate employees' interest in nature. This would be a wonderful biodiversity conservation activity. Also, you can conduct a similar activity at the narrow green space surrounding the building.

The Ishioka Plant has grassland between the building and the internal road, and trees are planted to surround the premises. You can also plant more native flora in these spaces, create a pond, or use small containers as water tanks to provide aquatic plants and animals with a habitat.

You need to devise measures to continue protecting nature and wildlife over many years. Such measures include distributing maps to employees showing the names and descriptions of flora that can be observed within the premises as well as creating an area for insects, wild birds, and green plants within the premises so that employees can feel closer to nature. Through these measures, you can increase employees’ interest, and more employees will understand the importance of biodiversity and nature conservation. Then, the number of those who support and participate in the conservation activities will gradually increase.

　

We have Group companies in more than 20 countries and regions. What kind of activities should we conduct to conserve biodiversity at these sites and to what issues should we give special consideration in the process?

It is essential to conduct activities according to the environmental policies of each country and state. When you plant trees to increase greenery, you also need to consider local ecosystems in the region. Alien plants might have a destructive impact on local ecosystems, and you had better plant native trees. For example, if you create a biotope for endangered species, it will be highly appreciated as being useful for biodiversity conservation. Presently, a decrease in the number of amphibians is regarded as a global problem, and it would be very significant to provide frogs with a waterside habitat.

●Miyata

Mr. Akazawa, you have kindly made explanations, comments, and recommendations for each of the four subthemes set for this meeting. In particular, for the measures to be taken at our four plants, you have given us detailed advice, which helps us conceive specific ideas about future directions. We at the Fujikura Group will implement unique initiatives at each of our plants in consideration of local features, regarding your precious recommendations as public opinions and practically implementing Roadmap 2030, our long-term vision for biodiversity. Thank you very much for today.