The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund
Introduction to Grant Projects
Kochi Prefecture Department of Culture and Environment, Bureau of Ecology (with participation from the Mitsui & Co. Shikoku Branch)
Protecting and maintaining forests, rivers and coastlines
Activity grant
- Project Description
Kochi is Japan's most forested prefecture with forests covering 84% of its total area. However, about 65% of this is manmade Japanese red-cedar and hinoki cypress forest planted following the Second World War, and the decline of the local forestry industry means they are not being managed, creating problems such as weakened water retention functions and soil runoff. This situation has resulted in several conservation initiatives, such as Kochi becoming the first prefecture in Japan to introduce a forest environment tax, and increased interest in the forests' CO2 absorption functions has led to the advancement of activities in partnership with corporation through the Collaborative Forest Restoration with Environmentally Progressive Companies initiative. The Mitsui & Co. Shikoku Branch embraced the spirit of this initiative and became the first partner company to participate. It is also sending staff from the branch and other group companies on activities such as tree thinning experiences in order to create environmentally aware workplaces.
- Fields
- Climate changePreservation of surface soil and forestsEnergy problem
- Grant year
- FY2005 Activity Grants
- Grant term
- 3 years
April 2006 - March 2009
- Grant amount
- 3,000,000 yen
- Activity region
- Ino (formerly Hongawa), Agawa District, Kochi Prefecture, Japan

Overview of the Organization

- Representative
- Masayoshi Yano, Bureau Chief
- Establishment
- 2003
- Establishment purpose
- The bureau was established with the aim of promoting initiatives that encourage co-existence with Kochi Prefecture's bountiful nature, conserve and use the area's pure stream water, and combat global warming, in order to build a low-carbon society.
- Main area of activity
- Kochi Prefecture, Japan
- Staff
- 21 full-time staff members
- Recent activities
-
- (1) Engaging in citizen led measures to combat global warming in the area, and collaborating with companies to maintain forests with CO2 absorbing functions through the Collaborative Forest Restoration with Environmentally Progressive Companies initiative. Engaging in prefecturally recognized initiatives such as issuing 'CO2 absorption credits' to collaborating reforestation activities and reducing CO2 emissions through the use of woody biomass fuel.
- (2) Protecting rare plant and animal species that perform important environmental functions, conserving and managing Kochi's abundant natural areas and wilderness parks, and managing prefectural livestock farms and botanical gardens.
- (3) Conserving the pure waters of the Shimanto River, Monobe River, Niyodo River, and Kochi's other valuable water sources, encouraging their use by as many people as possible, and preserving them for following generations.