Biodiversity Conservation in Company-Owned Forests in Japan

Our Policy on Biodiversity Conservation applies to the company-owned forests in Japan. We conserve "diversity of ecosystems" through proper management of conservation areas and consideration of forest continuity, "diversity of species" through protection of rare plants and animals, and "genetic diversity" through maintenance of wildlife populations. In keeping with these policies, forests are subject to appropriate zoning and management according to certain criteria, such as the increment of trees. We also strive to prepare an endangered species list and a waterside forest management manual, and check for rare species when clear-cutting and opening work roads.

Creation of the Sumitomo Forestry Red Data Book

Sumitomo Forestry creates a Sumitomo Forestry Red Data Book listing flora and fauna at threat of extinction which may exist in company-owned forests and distributes it to employees and contractors involved in forest management. By carrying the book with them during operations, personnel can refer to the opinions of specialists when they come across flora and fauna included in the book and manage them appropriately. While using the latest version of this book, we will continually advance measures focused on biodiversity and update the content of the text as necessary.

Creation of the Riparian Forest Management Manual

The Company has also used the Riparian Forest Management Manual to ensure the appropriate management and preservation of areas around bodies of water that are rich in biodiversity. Riparian forest management areas are registered in database. When conducting forest management, "Riparian Forest Management Manual" should be used to determine whether or not to conduct operations and to allow operations to start after confirming consideration for riparian forest.

Wildlife Monitoring Surveys

Sumitomo Forestry monitored wildlife inhabiting company-owned forests. Surveys were conducted in four areas-Mombetsu (Hokkaido), Niihama (Shikoku), Hyuga (Kyushu) and Kinki region (Honshu). The results were used to create basic reference materials relating to biodiversity and to ascertain the impact of forestry on the surrounding environment over the long-term.

Nine surveys were conducted from 2008 to 2016. The results of the surveys showed that the number of population and species of mammals and birds change during the gradual transition of small clear-cut areas to forest, indicating that biodiversity is maintained by forestry.

While a number of species decline temporarily, small size of clear-cut areas has been shown to distribute places suitable for umbrella species* such as hawks and land appropriate for hunting in a mosaic shape in addition to realizing a favorable environment for life such as the species above to thrive.

We will continue to work on operations that can appropriately maintain the environmental conservation and biodiversity conservation functions in company-owned forests, based on the monitoring results.

*Consumers at the top of the food chain, the ecological pyramid structure in the area

Appropriate Control of the Deer Population

Due to recent increase in wild deer throughout Japan, there are concerns about increased damage to forestry, such as damage to young leaves and bark, and loss of biodiversity and soil runoff due to loss of vegetation caused by damage to herbaceous plants on the forest floor. By capturing and exterminating deer and installing tree shelters and protective nets to protect garden vegetation, the Sumitomo Forestry Group is contributing to prevention of feeding damage caused by deer, growth of healthy forests, conservation of biodiversity by maintaining a variety of forest floor vegetation, and prevention of local disasters by preventing soil runoff. Tree shelters are effective against damage of animals other than deer, and contribute to comprehensive forest management for next generation through sustainable growth of forests. In fiscal 2023, we sold and installed approximately 100,000 tree shelters inside and outside the company, which are used in forests throughout Japan.

Sumitomo Forestry's company-owned forest certified as a natural symbiosis site

In fiscal 2023, a part of Sumitomo Forestry's company-owned forest in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, was designated as a "natural symbiosis site." "Natural symbiosis site" is an initiative promoted by the Ministry of the Environment to achieve the "30by30" target for “Nature Positive”. It certifies areas where biodiversity is conserved by private companies, such as Satochi-satoyama and corporate forests.
There is a community of rare alpine plants "Tsugazakura (Phyllodoce nipponica) in this certified area. Tsugazakura (Phyllodoce nipponica) is a small evergreen shrub of the Phyllodoce family Ericaceae, which has narrow leaves similar to Southern Japanese hemlock (Tsuga sieboldii) and produces cherry-red bell-shaped flowers in mid to late May. It is considered to be a species started in the ice age, and is highly valuable in terms of plant geography, ecology, and genetics because it is native species growing naturally in southern limit. In 2019, the "Tsugazakura (Phyllodoce nipponica) of Mt. Douzan" was designated as a natural monument.
In 1996, Sumitomo Forestry formed Tsugazakura (Phyllodoce nipponica) Nature Conservation Council with Niihama City and other local entities, and has since been engaged in conservation activities with local mountaineering organizations. In addition, Tsugazakura (Phyllodoce nipponica) of Mt. Douzan Preservation and Utilization Plan Committee, which includes experts, formulated a 10-year conservation plan starting in fiscal 2024. We will continue to engage in conservation activities involving local related parties.

Biodiversity Conservation in Planted Forests Overseas

Initiatives in Indonesia

More than half of living species throughout the world live in rainforests, which are said to be the treasure troves of life. However, rainforests are slowly disappearing today due to a variety of issues from disordered development and illegal logging to forest fires. The Sumitomo Forestry Group subsidiary companies PT. Wana Subur Lestari (WSL), PT. Mayangkara Tanaman Industri (MTI) and Kubu Mulia Forestry (KMF) conduct operations balancing working forests and environmental conservation in the West Kalimantan province of Indonesia.

Before starting afforestation business for this industry, we conduct precise measurements and surveys to determine conservation areas, buffer zones and forestation areas. Conservation areas are subject to regular animal and plant surveys. In addition to population monitoring of orangutans and proboscis monkeys, which are rare animals, studies are conducted on fruit-bearing trees, their source of food.

Observations in the dark for the numerous animals active in the early morning or late at night require proficient skills. Sumitomo Forestry is attempting to directly observe proboscis monkeys and orangutans in the early morning and night by setting up automatic photography using camera traps or drones equipped with heat sensors. Camera traps installed in conservation areas photographed 44 species and 808 animals in 2023.

We photographed an adult orangutan with its child for the first time in fiscal 2019 and confirmed a higher population than in surrounding areas in fiscal 2020. These results verify the growing orangutan population.

Peatlands store a tremendous amount of water. Sumitomo Forestry surveys not only ecosystems on land but also in aquatic habitats due to concerns about the impact of our operations on rivers. In the lower basin of an area managed by WSL, we have discovered a habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins, which are designated as an endangered species. Examples of monitoring surveys of aquatic creatures in rainforest peatlands are few and far between. These Sumitomo Forestry surveys are pioneering the work worldwide.

Initiatives in New Zealand

Sumitomo Forestry strives to protect Kea (Large Parrot Species), which is a parrot unique to the South Island of New Zealand. Kea is the only parrot in the world to live in mountainous areas, and it is considered one of the smartest birds on the planet. It is a bird that is protected as an endangered species (about 5,000 birds throughout New Zealand), and adored by the people.
It has been confirmed that it nests in a drainpipe in forest of Tasman Pine Forests Ltd. (TPF), a subsidiary of the Sumitomo Forestry Group. In cooperation with the Kea Conservation Trust, we strived to set up traps and fences around the area to protect eggs from natural enemies. As a result, it was confirmed that one chick had hatched in 2021 and three in 2022. In 2023, it was confirmed that a new nest was built, and protective activities were carried out. We will continue these activities in the future.