The member's nature conservation activity - Shimizu Corporation

Keidanren Nature Conservaition Fund / Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation

Shimizu Corporation

The member's nature conservation activity
Shimizu Corporation

URL:http://www.shimz.co.jp/english/index.html
Liaison:Global Environment Department, Safety Administration and Environment Division
Address:SEAVANS SOUTH, 1-2-3 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8007, Japan
Telephone:+81-3-5441-1111
FAX:+81-3-5441-0526

1. Management principles/policies regarding nature conservation and biodiversity

We have engaged in various activities, including design, construction, R&D, environmental education, and social welfare activities. In April 2009, we established the Shimizu Biodiversity Guidelines to fulfill our corporate social responsibilities by continuing and further developing these activities.

2. Biodiversity initiatives as part of the company's business activities
(including technological developments related to the natural environment and initiatives for creating a recycling-oriented society)

Measures to conserve trees, ground cover, and wildlife during dam construction

Dams are usually constructed in pristine natural environments in mountainous regions. In such cases, the associated deforestation and large-scale changes in topography have dramatic effects on the ecosystem. To preserve the unique characteristics of the natural environment and the rare species of local trees, plants, and wildlife, we carry out the following measures:

  1. (1) Restricting construction processes such as blasting during the breeding season
  2. (2) Using earth-tone colors for construction machinery and facilities to reduce their visual impact
  3. (3) Limiting the use of lights at night and use illumination less likely to attract insects.
  4. (4) Using electrical or low-noise machinery to reduce noise
  5. (5) Washing the tires of all construction vehicles to prevent dust scattering
  6. (6) Using the rising tower construction method to minimize impact on the flight patterns of birds of prey
  7. (7) Providing our employees with environmental education (workshops, environmental information display boards/posters, environmental handbooks, etc)
Construction and monitoring of biotopes in Shimizu's own facilities

Shimizu has constructed two biotopes: one on the rooftop of the company's Institute of Technology and another in its courtyard. These biotopes are used to study the following issues:

  1. (1) Rehabilitation of the urban natural ecosystem
  2. (2) Resource recycling
  3. (3) Creating pleasing environments

We continued to monitor the local flora and fauna following construction, confirming the presence of numerous animals that have taken up residence here, as well as an increase in number of plant species.

A golf course design retaining and incorporating mature trees and wetlands

We designed the golf course to leave mature trees in place and created wetlands with ecotones and a pond in an area where storm water gathers naturally. The result is an attractive golf course that forms part of the local ecosystem.

Ecological detention pond that meshes with the local ecosystem

The reservoir was home to a large number of valuable flora and fauna, including the Japanese firefly (Luciola cruciata) and Penthorum chinense. Major concerns included maintaining detention pond functions and ecosystem conservation. The improved structural design ensures more than adequate detention pond functions while complying with the Ecological Landscape Principle: "Humans create one half; Nature creates the other half." The result: the embodiment of a natural detention pond that serves as home to a diverse community of flora and fauna. Monitoring activities continued even after project completion.

A town incorporating a detention pond linked to groundwater

Since normal water levels in this detention pond is linked to groundwater levels, the quantity and quality of the water is constant. The bank is gently sloped and is now part of a park. The water now makes up an attractive town landscape.

3. Biodiversity initiatives as CSR activities
(including cooperation with NGOs and local communities)

  1. One of the mainstays of our CSR activities is our executives and staff's participation in various social contribution activities. We have established a volunteer information website (Volunteer WEB) on the company intranet where employees can exchange information about, and expand participation of various activities.

  2. In our national forests, we participate in the planting of deciduous tree saplings of Fagus crenata, Quercus crispula, Viburunum dilatatum, Prunus grayana, Acer mono var marmoratum, Vitis coignetiae, Juglans mandshurica var. sieboldiana, Aesculus turbinata, and Castanea crenata.

  3. As part of the Mount Fuji reforestation project, we are currently planting Fagus crenata, Quercus serrata, Stewartia monadelpha and Zelkova serrata. We also clear undergrowth from beneath the trees.
    Regenerating Mt. Fuji's forest

  4. As part of the water conservation forest, we have cleared vines and undergrowth from beneath broadleaf trees (Zelkova serrata, Benthamidia japonica, Quercus glauca, Quercus serrata, Prunus jamasakura, Magnolia obovata, Acer palmatum, and Styrax japonica).

  5. For more than ten years, we have maintained nesting sites for Grus monacha in Sunami City in Hiroshima Prefecture.
    Maintaining Grus monacha nesting sites

  6. We established the Animal Pathway Workshop in cooperation with the Kiyosato Educational Experimental Project (KEEP), an IT firm Enwit, and Taisei Corporation. Our activities ranged from monitoring to actual construction of the pathways.
    Animal pathway

  7. We participate in activities organized by the Zamami Diving Association in Okinawa Prefecture to remove crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) from the reef. Zamami Village is renowned as home to one of the world's finest coral reefs, and the damage to the coral inflicted by the starfish continues to expand.

  8. We participate in the Bunkazai no Mori (forest resource development for cultural properties) silviculture project of Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, a designated National Treasure.
    Osaki Hachimangu Shrine is working to plant and grow Japanese beeches, katsura trees, and other trees to be used for future repairs to the shrine. Every year, we participate as volunteers in this project, widely regarded as vital in protecting cultural property structures and in helping to preserve the global environment.

  9. We collect used telephone cards and support afforestation activities.

4. Environmental education initiatives

  1. Under our ISO 14001 program, we provide all employees with yearly education in the general environment and ecosystem conservation issues.

  2. We produced the Shimizu Ecosystem Conservation Textbook for use in in-house training programs.

  3. We have established the Shimizu Open Academy, a program that offers open lectures geared toward young people and the general public from all over Japan.

  4. We have constructed one of the largest private biotopes in Tokyo, consisting of The Forest of Regeneration (1,940 m2) and a rooftop biotope (176 m2), both at our Institute of Technology. These biotopes are used in the environmental education of local schoolchildren and of the surrounding community.
    The Forest of Regeneration biotope

  5. With help from students and university personnel, we continue to implement eco-campus activities on a university campus with the goal of establishing a base for community-oriented environmental education.
    A parent-child class making practical use of the eco-campus

  6. Environmental education overseas
    We are committed to providing the children of Asia with an education in environmental issues. With the goal of fostering awareness of the environment in the children who will shoulder the responsibilities of the next generation, Shimizu Corporation employees act as lecturers, providing the children of Thailand with an education in environmental issues.
    Environmental education at Pimpawas Elementary School in suburban Bangkok

  7. We produced a pamphlet entitled Biodiversity: What We Can Do.

  8. We published a series of illustrated handbooks, including The Shimizu Environmental Handbook and The Shimizu Ecosystem Handbook for distribution at exhibitions and other events. These materials are designed to be easily understood, even by children.

  9. With the cooperation of students and university personnel, we continue to implement eco-campus activities on a university campus, with the goal of establishing a base for community-oriented environmental education.

  10. We dispatch employees to serve as lecturers for environment-related seminars and for workshops sponsored by universities, municipalities, and NGOs.