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National Geographic, Japanese Version, July 2002 |
We would not finish it only by preserving nature. |
From forest conservation to recovery, further toward support for local people, Ricoh joins with the WWF and continues environmental conservation activities for the future in the Kinabatangan riverside area where scarce creatures live.
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Through forest fire or development, the forest area is rapidly decreasing. |
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The Kinabatangan River runs through Sabah State of Malaysia, and is located in northeast of Borneo Island. The middle and downstream area of this great river - as long as 560 km - is a forest zone where orangutans that (called the "man of forest" in the Malaysian language), Asian elephants, long-nosed monkeys and other scarce and peculiar species live. However, due to a drought caused by El Nino occurring recently, forest fires and development, the forest area is rapidly decreasing. The habitat and food for wild creatures has decreased and their runs are cut.
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First, we will finish planting of 50 hectares by October 2003. |
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In October 2000, Ricoh engaged in partnership with the WWF, an environmental NGO that conducts world scale activities, to start the Kinabatangan Forest Recovery Project. Together with local people, wide scope forest management was carried out, including the cutting of vines which are parasites on the trees, maintaining and growing of saplings and planting them. A specific target was established to have 3 places covering 50 hectares planted by October 2003; and we are striving for the recovery of forests where wild creatures can freely move.
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Through supporting local people's efforts for the environment, we aim for environmental conservation activities that last long into the future. |
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In order to continuously preserve rich nature, understanding and cooperation of the local inhabitants are indispensable. While conducting forest management like planting together with the local people, we are actively promoting the importance of the ecological system conservation. Further, we support popularization of eco tours that bring them income independent from forest cutting. We are also striving to build infrastructure whereby local inhabitants voluntarily preserve the nature while extending the forest recovery of the whole area of Kinabatangan River. For Ricoh, promoting environmental business management to the next step in ecological system conservation is one of our important efforts. We will continue high quality environmental conservation activities in various parts of the world.
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| We are further developing forest conservation projects in 10 sites around the world. (as of July 2002) |
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Recovery of forests where the giant panda lives in China under cooperation with the WWF |
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Forest conservation and recovery in the Sierra Madre region of the Philippines, with CI |
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Recovery of Tama village hill, together with the Japan Wild Bird Society |
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Conservation of Nagano Kurohime Afan Forest with the C. W. Nicol Afan Forest Foundation |
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Forest conservation and recovery in a World Heritage area in Sri Lanka with the Sri Lanka Wild Bird Omithology Group |
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Conservation of a Brunei mangrove primeval forest with Ramsar Center |
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Forest tree crown investigation in Madagascar with Pronatura |
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Recovery of a village hill in Bangladesh with Porsh |
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Recovery of a water source forest in Malaysia with Oisca |
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Recovery of a corridor through a cocoa forest that grows under the shade in Ghana with CI |
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