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Kawasaki City and Fujitsu Launch New Greenery Conservation Efforts

To develop and implement conservation management activities

Kawasaki City,Fujitsu Limited

Kawasaki and Tokyo, April 19, 2012

Kawasaki City and Fujitsu Limited today announced plans to hold a memorandum signing ceremony on April 24, marking the beginning of a cooperative effort aimed at greenery conservation management activities in the Kuriki San'noyama Special Greenery Conservation Area(1), located in Kawasaki City. These on-site activities are set to commence from April 27.

Based on the "Conservation Management Plan for the Kuriki San'noyama Special Greenery Conservation Area(2)," which was developed by Kawasaki City and Fujitsu's Kawasaki Plant in Nakahara Ward, the effort aims to rehabilitate devastated woodland areas into well-managed woodlands over a period of roughly seven years. This will be accomplished through the support of Kawasaki City, together with the volunteer activities of Fujitsu employees and the use of ICT(3).

The new effort, which is an example of a city government and a company cooperating on a conservation management plan for a designated greenery area from the planning stages, is a forward-looking initiative that will employ Fujitsu's unique technologies and manpower as part of the greenery area conservation activities.

Along with pursuing the "Conservation and Cultivation of the Tama Hills Greenery" initiative based on the city's comprehensive "Kawasaki Revitalization Frontier Plan," Kawasaki City aims to properly manage preserved greenery areas through sustained efforts while exploring new greenery conservation measures, as outlined in the "Basic Plan for Kawasaki City Greenery."

In its "Fujitsu Group Biodiversity Action Principles," the Fujitsu Group has recognized the application of ICT to biodiversity conservation as one of the company's high-priority measures. In conserving biodiversity, it is crucial to analyze and evaluate the conditions of wildlife and ecosystems, such as forests and rivers. Based on these results, conservation plans must be designed, implemented and monitored for their effectiveness.

About the Kuriki San'noyama Special Greenery Conservation Area

Situated in Kuriki in the Asao Ward of Kawasaki City, the special greenery conservation area is a 2.0 hectare plot of natural greenery that stretches from the mountainous areas at the city limits of Machida City to the slopes of Kuriki.

Although the landscape is composed of Sawtooth and Konara oak, as well as thickets of Madake bamboo, this wooded area has remained unutilized for several decades. During that time, bamboo has penetrated the groves of trees, causing many to be overtaken and devastated.

Activity Overview

The conservation management plan puts forth the goal of revitalizing these bright wooded areas through measures such as clearing the bamboo that has invaded tree groves, trimming weeds, pruning tall trees and performing sprout regeneration(4).

Through training and volunteer activities to improve environmental awareness, Fujitsu will carry out conservation management of the greenery areas. Furthermore, by using the KANTAN HEP procedure(5), Fujitsu will assess whether the current greenery conditions are suitable as a livable environment for the Japanese Tit, one of the top species in that particular ecosystem. Once the assessment is complete, the Company will continue to monitor the area via a mobile photo system(6).

While supporting these activities, Kawasaki City will oversee activities that Fujitsu cannot, such as mowing grass in adjacent lands and carrying out tasks including pruning tall trees and performing sprout regeneration.

By revitalizing these bright wooded areas through conservation management, biodiversity in the area will improve, and it will serve as a midpoint in the migration paths of various birds and insects. Going forward, Kawasaki City and Fujitsu hope that these efforts will lead to the construction of an ecological network in the Tama Hills.

Future Schedule

  1. Memorandum Signing Ceremony:
    The official signing ceremony for the memorandum will be performed by the heads of the Kawasaki City Greenery Promotion Division and the Fujitsu Kawasaki Plant.
    • Date and Time: April 24, 2012 (Tuesday), 10:30-11:00AM
    • Place: Head office of the Kawasaki City Greenery Promotion Division on the 13th floor of building 3 of the Kawasaki City Hall
  2. The first survey using KANTAN HEP and monitoring tests using a mobile photo system:
    A "KANTAN HEP Team," composed of individuals from Kawasaki City and Fujitsu, will carry out surveys checking to see if the area is suitable as a livable environment for the Japanese Tit. They will also perform monitoring tests using a mobile photo system.
    • Date and Time: April 27, 2012 (Friday), starting at 1:00PM
  3. Carrying out the first round of conservation activities:
    Fujitsu employees will carry out the first round of on-site conservation activities. On day one, employees plan to clear away bamboo that has penetrated into wooded areas.
    • Date and Time: June 6, 2012 (Saturday), starting at 9:00AM (planned)
    *The second activity for this fiscal year is scheduled to take place this autumn.

  • [1] Special Greenery Conservation Area

    A permanently preserved area that is designated under Japan's Urban Green Spaces Conservation Law as having excellent scenic beauty and landscapes, and therefore requiring conservation as a natural habitat for plants and animals.

  • [2] Conservation management plan

    Established in order to properly manage conservation efforts in Special Greenery Conservation Areas, this is a plan that defines policies for the greenery conservation management of plant and animal habitats.

  • [3] ICT

    Information Communication Technology

  • [4] Sprout regeneration

    A process that involves cutting down deciduous broad-leaved oak trees, such as Sawtooth and Konara oak, every 10 to 15 years to bring forth new sprouts from the stumps. By clearing out the tall trees, sunlight is able to reach the forest floor, which allows various plants to grow unimpeded and brings more light to forested areas, thereby creating a more suitable habitat for insects and birds.

  • [5] KANTAN HEP

    A procedure used to select which regional wildlife should be conserved by designating species of value. This is followed by using diagnostic sheets to perform assessments of those species' habitats in terms of ease of living. KANTAN HEP was developed through a collaboration between Professor Akira Tanaka of Tokyo City University, Fujitsu FIP Corporation and Fujitsu Limited.

  • [6] Mobile photo system

    A system that enables at-a-glance access to information stored in a database and easy browsing of mapped data. Data is stored by simply e-mailing a designated address with an attached image that has been captured using a GPS-enabled mobile phone to embed it with location and time information.

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Over 170,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$55 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com

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All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

Date: 19 April, 2012
City: Kawasaki and Tokyo
Company: Kawasaki City, Fujitsu Limited, , , , , , , , ,