Nature in Madagascar, the home of rich biodiversity
(c)Conservation International

The Brother Group aims to contribute to biodiversity conservation around the world. As part of these efforts, Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) selected the Republic of Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa, as a new target area from 2010, and started supporting biodiversity conservation.

The island of Madagascar is a global treasure-trove of exceptional and unique biodiversity. The island nation is home to greater amphibian diversity than any other African country, and most importantly, 99% of the species are found nowhere else on earth. However, a quarter of all amphibian species present in Madagascar are internationally recognized as being threatened with extinction due primarily to decreasing reproductive rates attributed to environmental changes (i.e., climate change and land conversion) as well as the international pet trade in recent years.

Mantella cowani (an endangered species)
(c)Conservation International

BIL concluded a partnership agreement with Conservation International (CI), an international environmental NGO, to help preserve the endangered species. As part of its biodiversity conservation project in Madagascar, CI has been conducting population studies on Mantella cowani, increasing awareness of amphibian conservation, and promoting collaboration with local communities and government. BIL provides funding to CI to conserve Madagascar's precious ecosystem.

Cross-cutting the felled moso bamboo trees

Carrying logged moso bamboo trees

On November 13, 2011, a total of 31 individuals including the employees of Brother Industries Ltd. (BIL) and their families, Aichi Prefectural Government (Department of the Environment) employees, and local people joined activities to cut moso bamboo trees (Phyllostachys heterocycla f. pubescens) in Chiharazawa (Okazaki City) which is designated by Aichi Prefectural Government as a nature conservation area. This marked the third event following those in September 2010 and April 2011.

The main objective of these activities is to inhibit the growth of moso bamboo trees. To this end, bamboo trees are cut in autumn to bring in sunlight for precious plants around bamboo trees, and bamboo shoots are removed in spring.

Chiharazawa is home to broad-leaved indigenous trees, such as Stewartia monadelpha (characterized by its red trunk) and Malus tschonoskii, which are rarely found on the plains. In recent years, indigenous trees have been dying due to lack of sunlight caused by moso bamboo trees, an exotic species that grows rapidly.

For this reason, BIL decided to sign an agreement with relevant entities (including prefectural and local bodies) to carry out environmental conservation activities in Chiharazawa (about 14 hectares). It is interesting to note that among the more than 500 nature conservation areas nationwide designated by the national and prefectural governments, this is the first case where a private enterprise has engaged in conserving a nature conservation area as part of its social contribution activities.

During this bamboo-cutting event by BIL, about 50 moso bamboo trees (up to 25 meters tall) were felled by members of the local forest association with chainsaws. The participants cross-cut the felled moso bamboo trees (by trimming off branches and cutting the trees into logs of about two meters long for ease of transport). Moso bamboo logs that had been cut and dried in the forest in the past events were loaded onto a three-ton truck. These bamboo logs are recycled to make charcoal (used for deodorization, humidity control, and gardening, etc.) and other products.

The next event is scheduled for spring 2012 to remove bamboo shoots.

• The first case in Japan for a private enterprise to work on conserving a nature conservation area designated by a prefectural government (September 22, 2010) 

8th seedling planting activity in October 2011

Carefully planting 350 seedlings one by one on a slope

Thinning the forests to promote tree growth

In February 2008, a three-party agreement was concluded among Gifu Prefecture, Gujo City, and Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) to restore the Brother Forests in Gujo (comprised of three sites) in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. Over 10 years, the goal is to plant 7,400 seedlings of indigenous species on a former ski ground (8 hectares), and to thin two forests (20 hectares in total) to encourage the growth of healthy forests.

The Brother Forests in Gujo are covered by BIL's Brother eco point program, in which points are issued for eco-conscious actions taken by employees and their family members, and BIL then carries out various environmental contribution activities depending on points earned. At the Brother Forests in Gujo, employees and their family members volunteer to plant seedlings twice a year (in spring and autumn).

In FY 2011 (April 1, 2011-March 31, 2012), the activities at the Brother Forests in Gujo are also being funded by the Brother Group's click donations (made in FY 2010 [April 1, 2010-March 31, 2011] ) to cover various expenses for (i) planting seedlings and thinning forests, (ii) setting up signboards on the afforested and thinned areas and improving forestry roads, and (iii) conducting soil improvement experiments.

In January 2009, BIL became a member of the Japan Business Initiative for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (JBIB)^* to further upgrade efforts to help conserve biodiversity and promote various activities.

• * A group of companies that are committed to conserving biodiversity

Restoring forests in different parts of the USA by planting trees
(c)Mitch Wiebel

Restoring forests by planting trees in the USA

BIC (USA) is teaming up with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in forests in various parts of the USA that have been severely damaged by wildfire, disease, and harmful insects. These precious forests provide clean air and drinking water, wood for building houses, and habitats for wildlife.

In FY 2011 (April 1, 2011-March 31, 2012), click donations made in FY 2010 (April 1, 2010-March 31, 2011) were used to plant 2,017 seedlings in the forests of Bayfield, Wisconsin (in the U.S. Midwest) under a program organized by the Department of Natural Resources.

Rescuing precious tropical rain forests
(c)Erika McDonald

Rescuing tropical rain forests in Central and South America

Brother Group companies in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru are helping to protect tropical rain forests in Central and South America through the Arbor Day Foundation's Rain Forest Rescue program. It is estimated that tropical rain forests are home to almost half of all known species, and so protection of these forests is critical for biodiversity conservation.

In FY 2011, click donations made in FY 2010 were used to protect 3,025,250 square feet of tropical rain forests in the Maya Forest in the Republic of Guatemala (in Central America).
Known for its ancient Maya civilization and as a coffee bean producing country, the Republic of Guatemala has suffered the loss of tropical rain forests due to agricultural development, road construction, and forest fires. It is urgently necessary to conserve the habitats of rare species of animals and plants such as jaguar and migratory birds.

Building forests in Canada through tree planting activities
(c)Mitch Wiebel

Developing forest resources in Canada

Brother International Corporation (Canada) (BIC (Canada)) is working with the Arbor Day Foundation in building Canada's forests through tree planting activities alongside Tree Canada, another forest protection organization in Canada. Newly planted trees help purify the air, provide drinking water, and offer habitats for many wildlife species.

Click donations made in FY 2010 will be used for activities by Tree Canada to plant 2,017 seedlings in 2012.

BIUK employees volunteering to build pathways and plant seedlings

Since FY 2006 (April 1, 2006-March 31, 2007), Brother Industries (U.K.) Ltd. (BIUK) has supported reforestation activities at the Millennium Eco Centre, an environmental education facility for students located at a former quarry site. In 2009, the activities expanded to involve family members of BIUK employees. In FY 2011 (April 1, 2011-March 31, 2012), reforestation activities were funded with more than 5,000 pounds (JPY 728,006) raised via the Brother Group's click donations in FY 2010 (April 1, 2010-March 31, 2011) .
The 200 seedlings that were planted back in 2006 have now grown well over one meter tall. Thus far, more than 4,000 seedlings have been planted.

In July 2010, BIUK employees volunteered to build pathways and plant seedlings. Although planting work looks easy, the ground at the Centre was very hard. The employees dug the ground and planted seedlings based on advice from the Centre's manager, and also learned that the forested areas are home to diverse plants and animals. BIUK is proud to be part of a project for creating natural woodland and new habitats for animals.

Certificate of donation (via click donations) issued by Cool Earth to BIE (April 2011)

Brother International Europe Ltd. (BIE) has been carrying out the Cool Earth Eco-Rewards initiative in collaboration with Brother's 15 sales companies in Europe, to provide financial support for activities to help prevent global warming depending on the volume of consumables (including toner and ink cartridges) collected. This initiative is named because BIE works in partnership with Cool Earth, a U.K.-based NGO working to protect the Amazon environment.

The scale of financial support has been increased thanks to the Brother Group's click donation program that was launched in 2010. Cool Earth estimates that click donations in FY 2010 (April 1, 2010-March 31, 2011) are helping to conserve 236 acres of tropical rain forests in the Republic of Peru (in South America), sufficient to fix 61,360 tons of CO₂ and protect six species of endangered animals, 322 species of plants, and more than 11,000 species of insects (including larvae).

The destruction of tropical rain forests has a significant impact on climate change and considerably increases CO₂ emissions by six billion tons annually. BIE remains committed to supporting Cool Earth's activities.

Removing Mikania micrantha at Qiushuishan Park

Mikania micrantha

On July 2, 2011, 60 employees of Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. (BTSL) volunteered to remove Mikania micrantha, a weed designated as one of the "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species," at Qiushuishan Park near the manufacturing facility. This activity has been held annually since 2009.

Native to Central and South America, Mikania micrantha is now seen in tropical and subtropical areas in Asia. This species was first identified in Shenzhen in 1984. Mikania micrantha has a serious impact on local ecosystems because this highly adaptable, fast-growing plant covers native trees and plants, hindering photosynthesis while depriving them of water and nutrition, and thus causing withering and death. In Shenzhen City, many companies (including BTSL) and volunteer groups have been continually working to remove the plant from parks and other public areas.

BTSL remains committed to eliminating this invasive species to maintain local ecosystems and to raise the environmental awareness of employees.

In front of a monument in Hongqiao Park

In 2006, Brother (China) Ltd. (BCN) started to make donations for maintaining the 1,800 m² green space at the Hongqiao Park, to provide local citizens with a rich green area in which to relax. The contract, which expired in 2011, was renewed for another five years, enabling BCN to continue contributing to local communities through environmental protection and cleaning up activities.
BCN also started to support greening activities in 2007 at the Olympic Park in Beijing. As the greening area was expanded from 7,251 m² to 9,800 m², a new contract was signed with Dongcheng District on March 24, 2010 to continue with the support activities. BCN is committed to fulfilling its social responsibility to local communities and to serving as a good corporate citizen.

BCN employees planting seedlings at Gucun Park in Shanghai

Planting seedlings at Green Base in Zhangjiakou City

BCN launched its own Brother eco point program on June 5, 2008, which falls on World Environment Day, to raise awareness of the environment among its employees. This program involves individual actions such as refusing plastic shopping bags and not using disposable tableware, as well as distributing eco-bags and cleaning up sidewalks and parks. The Brother eco points earned were used for greening activities such as the following:

In March 2010, 41 BCN employees planted 18 shaddock seedlings at Gucun Park in Baoshan, Shanghai.

In April 2011, BCN's Beijing branch employees and their family members (15 individuals in total) took part in a seedling planting event that was held jointly with the Hebei provincial government and other private companies. A total of 120 people planted 200 seedlings at Green Base in Huailai County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, which lies about 200 km northwest of Beijing.

Recording items on a data card while removing marine debris

Employees and their family members who joined the coastal cleanup activities in T-shirts with the kanji character for "close ties"

In October 2011, Brother Corporation (Asia) Ltd. (BCAS) joined coastal cleanup activities in Sha Lan, Tai Po District, Hong Kong, as part of its CSR activities. This is the second time for BCAS to support International Coastal Cleanup, the world's largest coastal cleanup activities organized by Ocean Conservancy (OC), a US-based marine conservation group.

Although there was concern over the impact of an approaching typhoon, the day was blessed with a lull in the rain. Fifteen volunteers including BCAS employees and their family members joined the activities, removed 141 kg of marine debris in 90 minutes, and recorded every item they found on the OC's marine debris survey data card. The recorded data is sent to OC via the Green Council (OC-authorized coordinator in Hong Kong) for analysis to identify the sources of debris and encourage the public to conserve the environments of harbors, coasts, beaches and oceans. The ultimate goal of coastal cleanup activities is to solve the problem of marine debris and keep the oceans debris-free, healthy, and clean into the future.

Planting mangrove seedlings with customers and suppliers

Planting seedlings in 2009 (above) and mangrove trees that have grown well (below: in November 2010)

In FY2009 (April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010), Brother Commercial (Thailand) Ltd. (BCTL) started to extend support for restoring mangrove forests in Samut Sakhon Province. Mangrove forests are home to a plethora of creatures; the network of mangrove roots reinforces the seashore and serves as a buffer which reduces the impact of tsunami.

In recent years, mangrove forests have been rapidly diminishing due to the development of salt and shrimp farms, and so local citizens and governments have been working to restore mangrove forests. To assist their activities, BCTL planted 120 mangrove seedlings and donated money for purchasing 1,000 seedlings to a local government in November 2009. BCTL also helped to build bamboo walls to protect seedlings from large waves and prevent coastal erosion.

In November 2010, BCTL worked with customers and suppliers, who were inspired by BCTL's activities, to plant 300 mangrove seedlings. This afforestation activity was joined by 120 individuals in total. BCTL will continue to support the restoration of mangrove forests.

BICM staff members who joined the beach cleanup activities to protect the nesting site for sea turtles

Turtle hatchlings burrowing out of their nests

Brother International (M) Sdn. Bhd. (BICM) has been supporting a sea turtle conservation program, which is intended to conserve primarily Hawksbill and Green turtles and conduct surveys on sea turtles.

As part of support activities, 30 BICM staff members volunteered to work with SEATRU (Sea Turtle Research Unit), an arm of the University of Malaysia, Terengganu in cleaning up the beach of Chagar Hutang, Terengganu (a natural nesting site for sea turtles in Malaysia) on September 25, 2010. This effort was also held in conjunction with the Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day, where volunteers in more than 100 countries participate in beach cleanup events around the world.

BICM staff members who joined the cleanup activities learned from SEATRU members how efforts to prevent littering on the beach as well as the sea turtle conservation program, which is supported by BICM, help conserve sea turtles. They also had the rare, breathtaking opportunity to witness turtle hatchlings burrowing out of their nests in the sand.

Climbing up a muddy mountain path to plant 700 seedlings

BIC(P) employees who joined the afforestation activities

In November 2010, 34 employees of Brother International Philippines Corporation (BIC(P)) joined the first event to plant seedlings in the upper reaches of the Marikina River, which flows down through Metro Manila.
The Marikina River basin is shaped like a valley; the rain that falls on Mt. Purro near the headwaters flows into the river by gravitational force. Deep mountain forests used to retain the rainwater and prevent the river's water level from rising sharply after rain. However, widespread deforestation for development in the 1960s and 70s has caused the water level to rise immediately after heavy rain, leading to frequent flooding in Manila City.
To help improve the situation, BIC(P) launched a project to restore forests around Mt. Purro in collaboration with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP, one of the largest NGOs in the Philippines) and local people. The project will plant more than 700 seedlings each year for three years.

In this first event, the seedlings of local indigenous species, including Burmese rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus, the national tree of the Philippines), lead tree (Leucaena leucocephala), and mahogany, were planted on a one-hectare site. Although the employees had to climb up a steep and muddy mountain path to get to the planting area, they worked together to fulfill their mission.
This afforestation project also created new jobs in the local community which will take care of the planted seedlings for the next three years and also grow seedlings at nurseries for the next 10 years. BIC(P) will continue to work on afforestation activities and help trees to grow, together with the local people.

BIA's Eco Warriors work hard to plant 120 seedlings

At Brother International (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. (BIA), 11 employees who are actively engaged in eco point activities have formed a group named Eco Warriors. They work to protect the environment with funds derived from BIA's eco point activities. In June 2010, they planted seedlings at the Lane Cove National Park, which is just 10 minutes on foot from the office.

Located along a river in northern Sydney, this national park boasts diverse natural features such as primeval mangrove forests and tidal flats. The park is also home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including marsupials that are only found in Australia and endangered species of reptiles. Known as a destination for enjoying wild plants and flowers, the park also attracts many people for cycling, camping, fishing, canoeing, and other activities.

The 11 employees planted 120 seedlings of indigenous shrubs in an area of about 40 m² within this local national park to help it continue to serve as a symbol of harmony between people and nature. BIA's Eco Warriors are committed to protecting the precious local environment and helping the seedlings to grow.

Presenting money raised via click donations

A manta ray subject to a biology and ecology survey
(c)Kathy Townsend

Brother International (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. and Earthwatch, an NPO working on conserving the nation's biodiversity, are supporting a project by Dr. Kathy Townsend of the University of Queensland to conduct a survey on the biology and ecology of manta rays (Manta birostris) and protect the species.

Manta rays, the largest species of ray in the world, measure seven meters across the pectoral fins. Although manta rays are the icon of Australia's oceans and seas, little is known about their biology and ecology. The research group including Dr. Townsend has been working on Project Manta to understand the behavior, biology, ecology and migration patterns of manta rays and thereby help protect the species.

Recently, click donations made under Brother Earth in FY 2010 (April 1, 2010-March 31, 2011) were used to purchase six pop-up satellite archival tags to be attached to manta rays and track their movements.

While being carried by manta rays, the tags log data of water depth, water temperature, and light intensity, thus assisting research on the migration patterns and marine environment, in particular, of manta rays. These tags are designed to self-release automatically on a predetermined date at a predetermined time and float to the surface, to minimize the impact on manta rays.

To date, 440 manta rays have been identified in the research project. Information has been gathered regarding habitats, migration paths, water depths and temperatures that manta rays are well adapted to, and their feeding patterns, thus gradually clarifying the biology and ecology of these creatures.

Planting seedlings on Island Bay

In FY2008 (April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009), 10 out of the 43 employees working at the two offices in the Wellington area under the jurisdiction of Brother International (NZ) Ltd. (BINZ) volunteered to plant seedlings of Spinifex (of the Poaceae family) and Pingao (of the Cyperaceae family), which are suitable for fixing sand, to conserve the dune ecosystem of Island Bay.

Trees planted by employees for nesting birds

BINZ launched Brother eco point activities in June 2010; points earned by employees through their environmental and social contribution activities are converted into money to support a project for protecting the shore plover, an endangered bird species that inhabits Mana Island near Wellington. Efforts have been made to create an environment for restoring the population of shore plover on Mana Island which is free from predators, and monitoring is also under way. This project has been led by the Friends of Mana Island (FOMI)^*. BINZ signed a three-year sponsorship agreement starting in April 2011.
In May 2011, six BINZ employees volunteered to join the project; they weeded and cleaned the habitats of shore plover, and planted trees whose twigs can be used to build nests.

• *: A nonprofit organization established to support an ecosystem restoration project that was arranged by the Department of Conservation (DoC) in 1987