Initiatives for Biodiversity

We have identified "Biodiversity Conservation" as one of the priority initiatives in our Environmental Policy and established the "Biodiversity Policy" in February 2024. Based on this policy, we are implementing a range of initiatives. Moving forward, we shall continue our efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity, collaborate with local communities, and develop environmental technologies.

Biodiversity Policy

Biodiversity and our Company’s businesses

As a general contractor whose main business is construction, we have been assessing the impact of our business on biodiversity and undertaking measures to address them.

Construction work

The turbid water generated during construction may affect habitats and growth of organisms in rivers and coastal waters. Moreover, the lighting used at work sites are said to impact insects and plants.
If there is a risk of impacting the surrounding environment, we set up settling basins to prevent turbid water from being discharged directly into rivers and other bodies of water. For lighting, we use mosquito repellent lights that are hard to see for insects.
In addition, changes in land use due to the construction of tunnels and roads in mountainous areas and urban area redevelopment may change existing natural ecosystems and affect biotopes and habitats.
When rare species have been confirmed to be present in the surrounding environment of our construction sites, we conduct monitoring of the rare species and take environmental protection measures in consideration of their native habitats. For development projects, we also propose plans that consider biodiversity, including the active introduction of native species.

Building use

Construction works in themselves impact biodiversity. Hence, research and development related to biodiversity have the potential to reduce impacts.
We have been conducting biodiversity-related research and development, which includes a biodiversity forecasting system and a green infrastructure demonstration facility to create urban waterfronts.

Conservation of Satoyama Environments and Protection of Rare Species on Company-Managed Land

We are implementing natural environment conservation activities on approximately 0.32 km² of company-managed land in Kamigo-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama City. This area is located near Mt. Enkai–Kita-Kamakura, adjacent to the Mt. Enkai and Kita-Kamakura Suburban Green Conservation Area, and within the Mt. Enkai Wildlife Protection Area designated by Kanagawa Prefecture. The site, once a traditional satoyama valley where rice cultivation was practiced, had become largely unmanaged, with many abandoned farmlands.
To restore this environment, we are conducting forest management, wetland restoration, and the creation of reed grass wetlands, thereby contributing to the conservation of the satoyama ecosystem. We are also collaborating with local residents and community organizations to promote continuous satoyama conservation activities.

Number of Satoyama Environmental Conservation Activities at Kamigo Company-Managed Land

We are implementing conservation activities for rare and indicator species confirmed in the area.
For rare species such as Penthorum chinense (Takonoashi), we are collaborating with local authorities and specialists to conserve their habitats and conduct seed sowing and other conservation measures. We are working to conserve one Vulnerable (VU) species and two Near Threatened (NT) species listed in the Ministry of the Environment Red List (2020). In addition, as a habitat for Aquatica lateralis (Heike firefly), an indicator species of the region, we have restored idle land into wetlands and confirmed its stable habitation and growth.

Summary of Initiatives

• Ecological Corridor Simple Evaluation Tool (CSET)
  CSET is a simple tool to assess the biodiversity potential of urban areas, and is useful for biodiversity-conscious urban planning.
• Biodiversity Simple Evaluation Tool (BSET)
  Leveraging the diverse functions of the natural environment such as providing habitats for living creatures and forming good landscapes, BSET is useful for sustainable community development.
• Use of the Ecosystem Evaluation Method
  Aiming for sustainable development, we introduced the Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP), which quantitatively evaluates changes in plant and animal habitats.
  This initiative provides a quantitative assessment of the current state of the ecosystem and multiple future proposals, in order to help find the ideal land use that takes biodiversity conservation into consideration.
• Pest Risk Display System for Greening Works
  Using the know-how we acquired through the development of BSET, this technology was jointly developed with Ishikatsu Exterior Co., Ltd. to support the design of environments that repel pests at the design stage of green spaces.
• Green infrastructure demonstration facility
  Leveraging the diverse functions of the natural environment (such as providing habitats for living creatures and forming good landscapes), this initiative has been useful in sustainable community development.
• Chiiki Tree (Japanese only)
  Native tree species for greening, grown from seeds collected and cultivated locally, contributing to the conservation of regional biodiversity.