JT Renews Commitment to Conservation Project

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 10/20/2011

Japan Tobacco Inc. has said that it will renew its commitment to an afforestation and forest conservation project it has been involved with in the Kochi Prefecture. The new agreement for the 'JT Forest Nahari' project under way in Nahari, Aki-gun, will run for five years from November 1. JT has been working since November 2006 in partnership with the Kochi prefectural government, the Nahari Gobun forest owners' co-operative, and the town of Nahari as part of Kochi Prefecture's 'Collaborative Forest Restoration with Environmentally Progressive Companies'. Through the partnership, the company has been engaged in collaborative afforestation and forest conservation efforts on about 160 ha of privately owned forest, but the term of the partnership is due to expire on October 31. Because of the perceived need for sustained forest management, JT has decided to renew the joint partnership, which will now apply to 202.11 ha of forest. 'The presence of coral has been confirmed along the coast of Nahari,' JT said in a press note announcing the renewed partnership. 'Because the coral has settled on breakwater blocks, the coral's age can be determined from the amount of time that has passed since the blocks were installed, which makes it an especially valuable community resource from a scientific perspective. 'The forest covered by the partnership is situated in the basins of two rivers that empty into the sea off Nahari, so in addition to enhancing the multiple functions provided by the forests through our afforestation and forest conservation efforts, we shall try to implement approaches that will lead also to the conservation of river and sea environments as well as drainage basin environments inhabited by coral and other organisms.' Everyday forest management and chief maintenance tasks are to be delegated by JT to the forest owners' co-operative, just as in the first partnership term, but in the interests of furthering interaction between community residents and JT Group employees, the company will continue to join in collaborative afforestation, forest conservation and environmental activities. 'The JT group uses raw materials such as leaf tobacco, paper, vegetables and tea leaves in its businesses, primarily in the tobacco, pharmaceutical and food operations,' the company said in its press note. 'The group carries out these and other afforestation and forest conservation efforts as a means of showing appreciation for the resources of nature that lie at the core of our businesses and of fulfilling our corporate social responsibility. 'JT will continue to proactively engage in endeavors to create a better environment so that a healthy and productive environment may be handed over to future generations.' Enditem