2012

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) and NTN Kongo Corporation (hereafter, NTN Kongo) have embarked on forest-planting activities at “NTN Okukawachi Lakeside Forest” in Kawachinagano City, Osaka Prefecture.

Osaka Prefecture has launched an “Adopt-a-Forest Program” to bring forest owners and businesses together as part of efforts to increase participation by businesses in forest-planting activities. NTN and NTN Kongo have joined the program to undertake forest-planting activities in approximately 5,000 m² of forest area around the Takihata Dam shore in Kawachinagano City over a period of five years.

As the first activity, NTN held a planting ceremony at “NTN Okukawachi Lakeside Forest” on November 28, inviting officials from Osaka Prefecture and Kawachinagano City, as well as land owners. Forest conservation activities, such as the thinning of cypress trees, will be conducted twice a year from next spring as part of measures to encourage growth of water source forests, prevent global warming and damage from landslides, preserve biodiversity, and improve the overall scenery.

As one of its environmental policies, NTN states that by actively participating in regional social contribution activities and nature environmental protection activities, NTN will interact with the immediate community, aiming to develop together with the local region. “NTN Kigyo no Mori” activities^* have been implemented from 2002 as part of social contribution and natural environment conservation initiatives, with employees and their families participating in activities in six districts including Iwata, Kuwana, Okayama, and Nagano. This will mark the first time such activities will be held in the Kansai area where the NTN headquarters is located.

* “NTN Kigyo no Mori” activities: an initiative where the NTN Group borrows part of a local mountain forest for a set period of time so that employees, their families and members of the local community can conduct forest conservation activities such as thinning and planting trees

Reference

Major “NTN Kigyo no Mori” activities

Shizuoka Prefecture	“Shizuoka mirai-no mori supporter” system (Supporters of Shizuoka's future forest)
	Activity period: Five years from 2008
	Participating in Shizuoka Prefecture's “Shizuoka mirai-no mori supporter” system (Supporters of Shizuoka's future forest), cutting underbrush, maintaining a wild bird preserve, and improving mountain trails
Mie Prefecture	“NTN Komorebi no Mori” (NTN forest with sunlight filtering through the trees)
	Activity period: Five years from 2010
	Thinning and maintaining mountain trails, planting cheery trees and other plants, constructing benches using forest thinnings, and nature observation walks around Mt. Tado
Okayama Prefecture	“Kigyo tono kyodo no mori zukuri” agreement (Public corporate forest-planting)
	Activity period: Five years from 2008
	Planting trees and maintaining the forest, and participating in mushroom growing and nature observation walks as part of “NTN Kigyo no Mori” in Mimasaka City
Nagano Prefecture	“Mori-no-satooya” program (Adopt-a-Forest)
	Activity period: Five years from 2006, extended for another five years
	Support Komagane City and implement forest maintenance such as tree planting and underbrush cutting in cooperation with the city
Ishikawa Prefecture	“Satoyama no ikimono wo mamori sodateru katsudo” (Activities for protecting the biodiversity of local forests)
	Activity period: From 2011
	Maintain clear streams, and cultivate and release firefly larva to protect and cultivate the natural environment where fireflies live around Mt. Houdatsu
Wakayama Prefecture (Kinan district)	“Nagomi-no mori” (Forest of Relaxation)
	Activity period: Ten years from 2007
	Participate in “Kigyo no mori” program of Nishimuro-gun and implement forest maintenance such as tree planting and underbrush cutting

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