Initiatives to Preserve Biodiversity

Penthorum chinense, a near threatened species (the Red List by the Ministry of the Environment)

At its planned test course construction site (489,101 m2) and the surrounding area in Kikugawa city, Shizuoka prefecture, Yamaha Motor conducted an all-season environmental assessment over a one-year period in 2008. The results were compiled in 2009 and a Natural Environment Conservation Agreement was prepared. This became the basis for the preservation of plants (six species), mammals (one species), birds (four species), and fish (one species) identified from amongst those species listed in the Shizuoka Prefecture Red Data Book (Classification: Vulnerable, and Near Threatened). Yamaha Motor submitted the agreement to the related department of the Shizuoka prefectural government and is conducting ongoing monitoring.
In addition to the impact on the surrounding ecosystem, the company also plans to forecast the air pollution, noise, vibration, water quality degradation, and soil pollution that the surrounding area might suffer during site preparation and will try to minimize their impact during construction.

Beach Clean-up and Baby Turtle Release

Briefing the participants

Piling up sandbags

In September 2010, Yamaha Motor held the 20th annual Nakatajima "Beach Clean-up & Baby Turtle Release" program at Nakatajima Sand Dunes. The event is intended to protect sea turtles. Approximately 800 group company employees and family members-a record-high turnout-participated in collecting 160 kg of plastic, bottles, cans, and other waste during the beach clean-up activity. A new activity initiated in 2010 in cooperation with a local non-profit organization was piling up sandbags filled with sand and Japanese sedge to restore the beach.