Initiatives for the Conservation of Endangered Animals and Plants
The Sumitomo Rubber Group
The Group is involved in conservation activities focused on endangered, near threatened and rare species (five species of animal and 15 species of plant) at all eight of its sites in Japan, consisting of six factories, the Head Office and the Tire Proving Ground. The Kakogawa Factory is engaged in transplanting “Fujibakama” (Eupatorium japonicum) cultivated on its grounds to Kakogawa River beds as well as providing this plant to neighboring corporations and cities. Meanwhile, the Ichijima Factory strives to preserve the great purple emperor (Sasakia charonda), a designated national butterfly, and the tiny loach fish Lefua echigonia (Cobitidae family). The above butterfly was also found to be emerging successfully on the premises of the Okayama Tire Proving Ground. In “Kobe Mount Rokko GENKI Forest,” we are currently striving for the preservation and breeding of the Japanese bellflower, a rare species. Having collected seeds from native grown
flowers, we have nurtured seedlings and transplanted them to areas where we engage in conservation activities.
Kobe Mount Rokko GENKI Forest Native grown Japanese bellflower
Ichijima Factory The great purple emperor (Nymphalidae family) Near threatened species designated by Hyogo Prefecture
On the premises of the Okayama Tire Proving Ground, a Sasakia charonda (Nymphalidae family) butterfly, which is designated by Okayama Prefecture as a species requiring particular interest, emerges successfully for the first time in 2020
Chionographis japonica (Melanthiaceae family) cultivated on the premises of the Nagoya Factory is a rare species
Echinops setifer (Asteraceae family), an endangered species designated by Miyazaki Prefecture cultivated on the premises of the Miyazaki Factory
Lefua echigonia (Cobitidae family), a class I endangered species designated by Hyogo Prefecture, lives on the premises of the Ichijima Factory
Japanese dog’s tooth violet (Erythronium japonicum), a rare species, blossoming on the premises of a Group factory (today, colonies of this plant are rare sights.)
Hosta kiyosumiensis, designated as a near threatened species by Hyogo Prefecture, found on the premises of the Head Office
“Fujibakama,” a class II endangered species designated by Hyogo Prefecture, cultivated on the Kakogawa Factory’s premises
Alpinia japonica, a rare species, nurtured at the Izumiotsu Factory
Creating Biotopes at Bases around Japan
The Sumitomo Rubber Group
The Sumitomo Rubber Group is carrying out creation of biotopes within its business bases so that a wide variety of organisms living in these areas may be able to build natural ecosystems unique to such areas. Five biotopes are now established in total: the Shirakawa Factory “Shirakawa no Izumi,” the Nagoya Factory “Koromo no Izumi,” the Kobe Head Office “Soso no Izumi,” the Miyazaki Factory “Kirishima no Izumi,” and the Ichijima Factory biotope.
The biotopes in those regions were created by the hands of employees on their days off. With the cooperation of local residents, we preserve, nurture and return endemic plants and aquatic life to local areas.
A biotope named “Soso no Izumi” (Kobe Head Office)
