Social Contribution to Environmental Conservation
- Activities in Japan -
Sample Activities in Japan
Tree planting to celebrate Shinyugaku volunteer group
(Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd./Japan)
Tohoku Ricoh has been supporting Shinyugaku Satoyamanokai ("rural landscape conservation group for forests, play and learning)", a volunteer group for forest conservation, which was started in December 2007 in Shibata-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. On June 15, 2008, employees of Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd. joined the group at a celebratory ceremony and planted some 150 trees. A total of 32 other participants also joined in, including members of the volunteer group, representatives of Numabe Working Forest Co-operatives, Shibata-machi, Murata-machi, and the Social Welfare Council, and visitors from Taiyo no Mura, a public accommodation facility in the neighborhood. They spent an enjoyable hour planting trees selected to give a seasonal impact, such as different varieties of cherries, Japanese maples, oaks and chestnuts.
Oonomi Green Tourism
(Ishikawa Branch, Ricoh Chubu Co., Ltd./Japan)
The Ishikawa Branch of Ricoh Chubu Co., Ltd. in Japan has been encouraging its employees to participate in volunteer activities geared toward rural landscape conservation. In fiscal 2008, the attendance from the branch to various activities totaled 333. In June 2008, the branch signed the "Agreement on Supporting Activities to Use and Conserve the Rural Landscape," an initiative organized by Ishikawa Prefecture, and declared its will to support rural landscape conservation in the area. On May 11 and September 23, branch employees participated in rural landscape restoration activities organized by the Oonomi Green Tourism Council, a non-profit organization, in the Kumabuchi area of Nanao City, and the total attendance numbered 39. Those who experienced rice seedling transplanting and rice harvesting said they were excited to harvest the rice they planted in the spring. Many expressed their will to participate in another event.
Biodiversity study session
(Ricoh Human Resources Division/Japan)
As the first step of biodiversity conservation, the Human Resources Division of Ricoh Co., Ltd. conducted a survey in September 2008 to learn what kind of life forms they have in the premises and the surrounding areas of the Ginza, Ohmori, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama offices. In March 2009, the survey results were discussed at a biodiversity study session held at the Ohmori Office with the participation of some 20 employees. Ms. Risako Noguchi of the Nature Citizen Institute gave a lecture entitled, "What is Biodiversity." This was followed by lectures by the Environment Division of Ricoh Co., Ltd., including one on "Ecosystem Conservation by Ricoh." Then Mr. Noriaki Mitsumori of the Nature Citizen Institute led a concept workshop— "Environmental Conservation and Restoration from the Viewpoint of Other Living Forms" —and fieldwork. The event was concluded with a question and answer session on biotope creation in the office.
