Hylable Joins Phase 2 of 'TASUKI Project' to Pioneer Biodiversity Assessment with the Next Generation

Hylable Inc. has joined Phase 2 of the 'TASUKI Project,' an initiative to pioneer biodiversity assessment alongside the next generation. Hosted by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. and promoted jointly with corporate partners, technology partners, and supporting organizations, activities officially commenced on May 9, 2026.

[Project Overview] According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 69% of global biodiversity has been lost over the past 50 years*¹, with economic losses estimated at up to $44 trillion*². In response, efforts such as the '30by30' international goal to conserve at least 30% of land by 2030*³ are advancing, accelerating movements toward a Nature Positive*⁴ society. However, standardized evaluation and management methods for biodiversity remain unestablished. Validating these methods in real-world environments and cultivating the next generation of talent to lead sustainable efforts have become pressing challenges. Through this project, junior and senior high school students will utilize environmental DNA (eDNA) technology*⁵ and acoustic analysis technology*⁶ to undertake biodiversity assessments of rivers and forests. The research also aims to foster talent capable of taking action by deepening their understanding of the connection between the natural environment and human society, helping them recognize the richness of nature. During Phase 1, conducted from May 2024 to March 2026, four schools located around the Tama River basin in Tokyo and Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture conducted aquatic surveys using eDNA analysis. The findings were shared with local inland fisheries cooperatives and peers internationally. In Phase 2, the fieldwork expands from aquatic to terrestrial environments. Four schools in the Kanto and Nobeoka areas will conduct river biodiversity assessments using eDNA, while two schools in the Kanto area will conduct forest biodiversity assessments using acoustic analysis.

Project Name: TASUKI Project Concept: Living with the Earth, Connecting Richness Research Period: May 2026 – December 2027 Organizer: Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. Partners: Asahi Yukizai Corporation, Focus Systems Corporation Technology Partners: Hylable Inc., Fishpass Inc., Fukui Prefectural University Regional Collaboration Center, Ryukoku University Center for Biodiversity Science Supporters: Nobeoka City, Nobeoka City Board of Education Participating Schools: Urawa Jitsugyo Gakuen High School, Nobeoka City Kitagawa Junior High School, Tokyo Metropolitan Tachikawa High School, Ibaraki Prefectural Tsuchiura First High School, Miyazaki Prefectural Nobeoka High School, Waseda University Honjo Senior High School Interim Presentation: Science Castle World 2026 (Scheduled for December 12, 2026)

[Comments from Participating Organizations] Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. (Organizer) Addressing global challenges like biodiversity conservation is difficult for a single company. We believe in building frameworks where enterprises, startups, and universities form a team. Through this project, we aim to validate the process of implementing university-born tech into society alongside the next generation.

Asahi Yukizai Corporation (Partner) The TASUKI Project transforms Nobeoka's nature into a classroom. As an industry-government-academia hub, we will collaborate with schools, municipalities, and universities to create a positive cycle of learning and regional engagement.

Focus Systems Corporation (Partner) To solve severe social issues, ideas on what to combine IT with are crucial. In Phase 2, we expand to terrestrial fields, integrating new tech like acoustic analysis to visualize the natural environment.

Hylable Inc. (Technology Partner) Rooted in frog chorus research, we provide acoustic environment analysis for human conversation and biological sounds. We look forward to utilizing our 'KoeTurri' system in this project to connect students with diverse species.