Biodiversity
This page introduces Casio's initiatives for preserving biodiversity.
Casio's approach to biodiversity preservation
The 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) was held in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010. At this important international conference for resolving issues related to preserving the abundance of life on this planet, the following measures were adopted.
▪ New Strategic Biodiversity Plan (2020), and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2050)
▪ Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing
In March 2011, Casio established Biodiversity Guidelines for the entire Casio Group, as part of step 1 on this issue in its Environmental Action Plan. Next, the company will take steps 2 and 3 in order to protect biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems.
■ Step 1: Establish a Casio Biodiversity Activity Policy and Guidelines (Recently completed)
■ Step 2: Evaluate levels of biodiversity impact in all business areas (by fiscal 2012)
■ Step 3: Implement Casio's policy themes for the realization of biodiversity preservation (by fiscal 2013)
Table: Worldwide trends in biodiversity preservation
Year
| Global Trends
| Trends in Japan
| Trends in Japanese Industry
| Casio Response
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Up to
fiscal 2009 | Convention on Biodiversity (1992)
Comprehensive treaty for biodiversity preservation adopted ajor progress on ocean conservation. |
Basic Act on Biodiversity
Requiring local governments to establish plans for biodiversity preservation, and for companies to take responsibility for promoting self help and cooperating with local governments |
||
Fiscal
2010 |
|
August
Ministry of the Environment's Guidelines for Private Sector Engagement in Biodiversity National Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity 2010 |
April (Nippon Keidanren)
Declaration of Biodiversity by Nippon Keidanren, Action Policies, and Guide to Action Policies |
Environmental Action Plan relating to biodiversity preservation established
|
Fiscal
2011 | COP10 (Nagoya): October
Aichi Biodiversity Targets: Medium and long-term targets relating to ecosystem services |
October
Japan Business and Biodiversity Partnership started |
Casio Group Biodiversity Guidelines established
|
|
Fiscal
2012 |
|
|
|
・Implementation of impact assessment for biodiversity
preservation for the Casio Group |
Fiscal
2013 | COP11 (New Delhi, India): October
|
|
Biodiversity preservation
・Target setting |
|
Casio Group Biodiversity Guidelines
Fiscal 2011 Biodiversity Preservation Activities
Supporting Exhibitions by the Wild Bird Society of Japan
Casio Computer Co., Ltd., supported the 3rd "Interconnections Between Living Things Art Exhibit" held in Tokyo from November 12 to 21, 2010, and the exhibit of the same name in Nagasaki, held from November 27 to December 6, 2010. The two exhibits were attended by a total of more than 3,000 people.
The Casio Group is advancing activities to support biodiversity, fostering the many "interconnections between living things," including more than 30 million species on this planet. Casio has come together to promote activities to help protect all the irreplaceable living things on this planet and preserve the benefits they afford, while raising public awareness of these efforts.
Exhibit in the Collaboration Area (Tokyo)
Outdoor exhibit of stained glass with living things (Nagasaki)
■Activities Starting in Fiscal 2012
The Beautiful Tama River Forum
Casio will begin support for the Beautiful Tama River 100 Year Plan, with the aim of revitalizing the area, based on activities in three main sectors: economy, environment, and education/culture.
■Activities Receiving Ongoing Support
WWF Japan
Casio endorses the mission and action principles of the World Wide Fund for Nature Japan (WWF Japan), which is striving to build a future where people and nature can live in harmony. Casio also supports the organization as a corporate member.
ICERC Japan
Since the 4th International Dolphin & Whale Conference was held in Japan in 1994, Casio has released both official G-SHOCK and Baby-G models to support the International Dolphin & Whale Eco-research Network. For over a decade, Casio has donated a portion of the watch sales to help promote dolphin and whale educational and research activities worldwide through ICERC Japan (International Cetacean Education Research Center).
Initiative to Save Otoguro Cherry Trees
Otoguro cherry trees on the grounds of Kofu Casio
Otoguro cherry trees (scientific name: Cerasus serrulata, or "Komatsunagi") are a type of wild cherry that comes into full bloom in mid April. They have white blossoms measuring 5 to 6 cm, and the leaves emerge at the same time as the blooms.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, this cherry tree variety was growing along the banks of the Fuefuki River, which flows through present-day Chuo City in Yamanashi Prefecture. The Otoguro cherry gets its name from the Otoguro Embankment in the Otoguro District, where the trees used to bloom. This variety of cherry tree has long been a favorite of the people in that region.
However, with the improvement of the Fuefuki River in 1932, the Otoguro cherry trees were cut down. Mr. Matsuhiko Tanaka of Otoguro District grew grafted seedlings from a few remaining descendent trees, in order to bring back the historic Otoguro cherry. His activities eventually came to fruition, and a volunteer group for saving the Otoguro cherry was established in 2002. The Tamaho-cho (now Chuo City) Board of Education lifelong learning center led the whole community in efforts to save and cultivate Otoguro cherry trees. This was achieved through cutting and grafting methods using a few remaining descendents of the original trees.
As part of Kofu Casio's environmental activities, the company offered to participate in the cultivating of this endangered type of cherry tree, for the purpose of preserving the variety and beautifying the landscape around the plant. Kofu Casio received a donation of trees from Tamaho-cho (now Chuo City) in 2004, and over the three subsequent years, the company planted more than 30 Otoguro cherry trees. All the transplanted trees took root, and every spring they provide a beautiful display of blossoms for people to enjoy on the grounds of the Kofu plant.
The Otoguro cherry serves as a symbol of the connection between Casio and the people of Chuo City. The company is proud of its early participation in helping to preserve the tree variety, as part of its biodiversity protection efforts on the local level. This is just one example of Casio's vision of harmony among people, businesses, and living things.
