Kochi Prefecture Yusuhara Town and Dainippon Dial Consultant's "MISHIMA no Mori" Forest Certified as Ministry of Environment's "Nature Coexistence Site"

Yusuhara Town, Kochi Prefecture, and Dainippon Dial Consultant Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) announce that their collaborative forest, "MISHIMA no Mori," has been certified as a "Nature Coexistence Site" (certification based on the Regional Biodiversity Promotion Act) in the 3rd round of FY2025 by the Ministry of the Environment. A certification ceremony was held today, April 14, 2026 (Tuesday), at the Yusuhara Town Office.

Background and Evaluation Points for Nature Coexistence Site Certification: A "Nature Coexistence Site" is a system where the government certifies areas where biodiversity conservation is achieved through private sector initiatives, aiming for nature positivity. The certified "MISHIMA no Mori" is composed of a mixed forest environment of coniferous and broadleaf trees, with surrounding paddy fields and residential areas, characteristic of a Satoyama environment. As part of Dainippon Dial Consultant's "Research on SX Business Development," and utilizing the corporate hometown tax system, a project to convert coniferous artificial forests into broadleaf forests by planting new broadleaf trees was jointly promoted with Yusuhara Town. Through this initiative, rare animals and plants such as cuckoos, ruddy kingfishers, and Hakone-shikechidashida, as well as Japanese tree frogs, Japanese grass lizards, and Yamato clams, have been confirmed within the site. This was highly evaluated as having "biodiversity value" for the following reasons, leading to the current certification: - A place where ecosystems characteristic of secondary natural environments like Satoyama exist. - A place that provides ecosystem services and has a healthy ecosystem centered on native species. - A place where rare animal and plant species inhabit and grow.

About the Certification Ceremony: The certification ceremony was held today, April 14, 2026 (Tuesday), from 1:30 PM at the Yusuhara Town Office. Attendees included Mr. Tomoyuki Fukui, Director of the Shikoku Regional Environmental Office, Ministry of the Environment; Mr. Motofumi Takahashi, Mayor of Yusuhara Town; and Mr. Takaaki Kogo, General Manager of the New Business Development Division, Environmental Energy Department, Dainippon Dial Consultant Co., Ltd. The certification was awarded.

Future Outlook: Yusuhara Town and Dainippon Dial Consultant Co., Ltd. will continue to strive for the maintenance and enhancement of regional biodiversity through ongoing natural environment surveys and conservation activities in "MISHIMA no Mori." Furthermore, Dainippon Dial Consultant Co., Ltd. will leverage the results of this initiative to deepen research into forest utilization and the creation of natural capital-based businesses, promoting contributions to sustainability and ESG management through its operations.