The member's nature conservation activity
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
| URL: | http://world.honda.com/ |
| Liaison: | Environment & Safety Planning Office |
| Address: | 2-1-1 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8556 Japan |
| Telephone: | +81-3-5412-1155 |
| FAX: | +81-3-5412-1154 |
1. Approach To Nature (Environmental) Conservation
Honda has long been committed to environmental protection, working to help create "Blue Skies for Our Children". In the 1990s, Honda steadily enhanced its institutional support for environmentalism and created the Honda Environment Statement to clearly define its proactive approach to environmental issues. Honda has worked constantly to enhance its environmental conservation initiatives, treating environmental conservation as a key management priority. In addition to making our products and production processes ever more environmentally responsible, we are also firmly committed to a range of conservation initiatives, including Community Forest initiatives at our facilities, volunteer tree planting in watershed areas, the Joyful Forest Project for afforestation of the China's Korchin Desert, and educational initiatives such as the Nature Wagon environmental learning program on wheels and Hello Woods forest of discovery. Around the world, Honda is putting down roots wherever it is active, sharing joy with local communities and playing a leading role as a responsible member of society in promoting environmental conservation as part of our commitment to future generations.
2. Collaboration with Non-Governmental Organizations
Honda's collaboration with NGOs is not limited to financial support and cooperation: Honda associates are proactively involved, directly participating in project planning and volunteer work.
In Japan, Honda collaborates with NGOs in the communities surrounding its facilities to support forest-nurturing operations. Honda associates volunteer their time to participate in these activities. Also, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, Honda is working along with the Desert Planting Volunteer Organization, an NPO, to combat desertification of the region and restore greenery to the land through implementation of the Joyful Forest Project.
(Please see "6. Forest Management, Afforestation and Silviculture")
3. Environmental Education and Volunteer Development (Employees)
Honda's training curriculum includes environmental education aimed at encouraging each of its associates to be aware of his or her individual role in promoting environmental responsibility in every phase of the company's operations. Upon entering the company, all new associates receive training to help deepen their understanding of Honda's fundamental approach to environmental issues. This is enhanced with ongoing training and information to ensure that associates retain an awareness of environmental issues that they can apply in all their activities. Further, groups at each worksite are proactively involved in seeking ways to reduce the consumption of energy and other resources and promote recycling. Today, with environmental issues increasingly attracting attention and global solutions being demanded, Honda associates are educated in environmental awareness from the time they enter the company to ensure that everyone takes environmental issues into account both in the workplace and in their personal activities.
Honda also provides its associates with opportunities to participate as volunteers in afforestation and other community service activities.
4. Environmental Education (External)
Nature Wagon
The Nature Wagon is an environmental learning program on wheels-a van filled with natural objects from the ocean and forest that travels to elementary schools and community centers, bringing nature to the city. Children are taught about the inner workings of nature and the importance of environmental conservation through presentations and workshops where they make things from natural materials. Retired Honda associates volunteer their time to help the children. Using natural objects as a catalyst, the program encourages children to explore and discover nature and the environment for themselves.
Hello Woods
Located in Motegi Town in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, Hello Woods is a living museum where children can proactively discover and experience nature. Children are our future, and activities here focus on providing them with the opportunity to play and learn in the forest. A local forest has been transformed into a real-world classroom, providing children the freedom to play to their hearts' content, to discover the wonders and wisdom of nature, and a chance to consider what they as individuals can do to help sustain the planet.
5. Utilization and Conservation of Company-Owned Lands
At Honda, we believe it is our duty as individuals to work to create environments that harmonize with nature, and to share them with the citizens of local communities. This is why we take the time to foster Community Forests on company land surrounding the facilities. Based on the idea of Honda founder Soichiro Honda that the company should not build walls that separate its operations from the local community (the greenbelt concept), Honda began engaging in Community Forest initiatives in 1976 under the guidance of Professor Akira Miyawaki who introduced the concept. Modeled on the groves surrounding traditional Japanese shrines, Community Forests are natural woodlands nurtured in accordance with sound ecological principles. Since the Community Forests project was started in 1976, over 670,000 trees have been planted over a total area of some 500,000 square meters.
In 2005, an existing Community Forest project at the Suzuka Factory was reinforced with the creation of an experimental new forest that is harmoniously linked with the production activities of the factory. This new Community Forest is included in factory tours, serving as a novel communication instrument that strengthens understanding between Honda associates and local residents. Honda hopes that such enhancements to the Community Forest concept will make this initiative even more valuable.
6. Forest Management, Afforestation, and Silviculture
Honda supports initiatives in Japan directed at preserving and restoring woodland areas around watershed headwaters. We currently support afforestation in the communities surrounding Honda facilities, with Honda associates volunteering their time to lend a hand. Also, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, Honda is working to combat desertification of the region and restore greenery to the land through implementation of the Joyful Forest Project. Honda has been involved since the project's inception, providing the Desert Planting Volunteer Organization (the NPO in charge of the project) with financial and volunteer assistance, in addition to helping with operational planning and the afforestation work itself.
Watershed restoration initiatives
In order to promote awareness of the importance of preserving watershed woodlands, the Kanto chapter of the Creative Conservation Club (a volunteer group) is conducting a reforestation project to revitalize the headwaters of the Tone River above the Naramata Dam, on the border between Gunma and Niigata prefectures. Honda supports these activities both through financial contributions and the volunteer tree-planting efforts of Saitama Factory associates and their families.
The Fostering 10,000 Acorns program
The Forest of the Plenteers, an NPO, has been called upon by Hamamatsu City and surrounding municipalities to implement the important task of conserving the forest in the headwaters of the Tenryu River. Honda is providing support, and associates and their families from the Hamamatsu Factory are volunteering their time and energy to help nurture the forest through their involvement in the Fostering 10,000 Acorns program.
Tama River headwater forest preservation
Honda has been collaborating with Kosuge Village and OISCA International to preserve the forest around the headwaters of the Tama River a key source of water for Tokyo. Honda provides financial support, along with volunteer tree planters from its Aoyama Headquarters, Saitama Factory, Wako Building, and other facilities.
Joyful Forest Project planning
In the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, Honda has been working with the Desert Planting Volunteer Organization, an NPO, since 2000 to restore greenery to the Korchin Desert. It is hoped that the area's residents will one day be in a position to preserve the region's natural balance independently. In addition to financial support, Honda is also actively involved in project planning, and volunteer afforestation tours are scheduled bi-annually for Honda associates and retirees.
7. Other Initiatives
Honda is proactively involved in nature conservation initiatives appropriate to the conditions in each community that hosts our operations worldwide. It is our desire that society will want Honda to exist in every community. With a view to realizing this vision, Honda seeks to enhance its communication with customers as well as members of local communities and implement initiatives that enrich the joy with people around the world.
Following are a few examples of Honda's worldwide nature conservation initiatives.
Earth Rangers (Canada)
Honda Canada provides vehicles (Odyssey) and financial support for Earth Rangers, a school-based environmental action program that encourages youth to think and act to conserve the global environment.
Elephant Patrols for Forest Conservation Project (Thailand)
The Elephant Patrol, a social service initiative launched with an investment from the Honda Group in Thailand and expanded with funding from the Honda Thailand Foundation, aims to protect wild elephants (Thailand's national symbol), reduce unemployment, prevent poaching, and help conserve the nation's forests.
La Mesa watershed afforestation project (Philippines)
Honda Cars Philippines has teamed up with the ABS-CBN Foundation to support an afforestation project in the 2,700-hectare La Mesa Dam watershed, which supplies water to the citizens of Manila. Honda contributes the funds needed to raise saplings, while associates volunteer to help with the planting.
Honda TreeFund (New Zealand)
The Honda TreeFund funds the planting of ten native New Zealand trees for every new car sold by Honda New Zealand. In the three years since it started in 2004, the Honda TreeFund has contributed sufficient funds to plant more than 230,000 saplings. Honda customers are also invited to donate to the fund at time of purchase, and are further invited to join with Honda dealership associates and members of local councils in the planting of the trees. In this way, everyone can play a part in understanding and supporting the greening of their community.