Planting "CO2-Storing Trees" Cleanlarch Seedlings in the Group's Forest Plantation in Hokkaido

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd.

Key points of this release

・The Mitsui Fudosan Group owns approximately 5,000 hectares of forests in Hokkaido, and will continue to cycle “Planting → growing → use” to create "endless forests" with the aim of contributing to sustainable forest circulation.

・NIPPON PAPER GROUP has developed efficient seedling production technology for new varieties “Cleanlarch”, which are expected to contribute to solving problems in the forestry industry due to their high CO2 fixation power, and has established a system to increase seedling production.

・In addition to the NIPPON PAPER GROUP, it has been decided to promote cleanlarch plantation in the forests owned by the Mitsui Fudosan Group in Hokkaido. We will continue to expand the plantation of cleanlarch trees under the cooperation of both companies to contribute to sustainable forestry industryand forest recycling.

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.(head office : Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President &President and Representative Director : Shun Ueda, hereinafter referred to as“Mitsui Fudosan”) and Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. (head office : Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President &President and Representative Director : Akira Sebe, hereinafter referred to as "here in after referred to as“ Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd.”) will promote the plantation of seedlings of the "CO2 storage tree" cleanlarch seedlings that have been able to increase production by Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd.' seedling production technology in the forests owned by both groups in Hokkaido.

Cleanlarch is an interspecific hybrid newly developed by the Hokkaido Prefectural Research Organization, with the Guimetsu elite tree as the mother and Japanese larchas the father. In addition to its ability to fix CO2 by 7~20% higher than that of ordinary Japanese larch, it has features such as a relatively fast growth rate and a reduced number of under growth cuts that occur during the Human Resource Developmentprocess.

In forestry industry, afforestation costs such as undergrowth cutting have become an issue, and in recent years,Japanese larch by field mice seriousness of the damage is also a problem. Cleanlarch is attracting attention as a new variety with a high degree of environmental contribution because it is expected to respond to these issues. In addition, it has excellent trunk straightness and strength, and is expected to be used as a wood material. On the other hand, until now, clean larch was difficult to propagate cuttings and the seedling production system was not in place, so it did not spread in Hokkaido. Therefore, Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. has established an efficient system to increase the production of cleanlarch seedlings by utilizing its unique seedling production technology cultivated throughoverseas plantationand domestic Japanese cedarand Japanese cypress.

With the cooperation of NIPPON PAPER GROUP, we will plantation clean larch seedlings from the fall of 2026 at the planned reforestation site in the Mitsui Fudosan Group's forest in Asahikawa City. In addition, we plan to plantation cleanlarch seedlings at the Mitsui Fudosan Group plantation training scheduled for this fall. In the future, in accordance with the reforestation plan in the forests owned by the Mitsui Fudosan Group, we will continue to plantation clean larch seedlings from NIPPON PAPER GROUP as appropriate. In addition, the two groups will jointly work on verifying the northern limit of cleanlarch in addition to the spread of clean larch in Hokkaido.

By combining the Mitsui Fudosan Group's efforts to create an "endless forest" with the NIPPON PAPER GROUP advanced seedling production technology, we will contribute to the realization of sustainable forestry industry and forest recycling.

■Comments from Each Company on this Initiative

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. President and Representative Director Shun Ueda comment

The Mitsui Fudosan Group continues to cycle“Planting → growing → use” in its forests in Hokkaido, and is working to create "endless forests" through sustainable forest management.

In cooperation with the Company, we will strive to popularize the new variety“Cleanlarch”, realize a carbon-neutral society with high CO2 fixation, and promote more sustainable forestry industry and active use of wood through forest recycling. We will contribute to the development of a city that expands a rich environment.

Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. President and Representative Director Akira Sebe Comment

NIPPON PAPER GROUP, as "a comprehensive biomass company SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH TREES," is working to ensure stable procurement of raw materials and expand its domestic timber distribution business by supporting the regeneration of sound forestry. As part of this effort, we are promoting the widespread use of elite tree seedlings, including cleanlarch.

In collaboration with Mitsui Fudosan, we will promote sustainable forests and forestry industry the spread of clean larch in Hokkaido, and contribute to the expansion of CO2 sinks and wood production and its utilization.

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■About Cleanlarch Seedlings 

Cleanlarch is an interspecific hybrid with“Nakashibetsu No. 5”as the mother and Japanese larch elite tree as the father, and has the characteristic of being 7~20% higher in carbon fixation than ordinary Japanese larch. In addition, the growth rate is relatively fast, and the number of undergrowth cuts that occur during the Human Resource Development process is also expected. In addition, it has been reported that field mice are resistant to food damage, and it is expected to be a tree species suitable for wood processing because it has excellent trunk straightness and wood strength.

“Cleanlarch”was decided by public call,“Larch”means Japanese larch in English, which contains the hope that it will purify the air and help prevent global warming.

*About seedlings https://dobyouso.or.jp/ (Hokkaido Forest Seedling Cooperative)

■ Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. Cleanlarch Seedling Production Technology

In the production of cleanlarch seedlings in Hokkaido, we receive the mother trees necessary for the production of cleanlarch seedlings from the Hokkaido Government through“Eirinkai”, which is composed of forest owners in Hokkaido, and produce seedlings in collaboration with producers in Hokkaido. Because cleanlarch is difficult to cut, only about five seedlings have been propagated from one mother tree so far, and its spread has not progressed. Therefore, Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd. has improved the propagation efficiency by more than 10 times by utilizing its unique seedling production technology, and it is now possible to produce more than 50 seedlings from a single mother tree. Production is entrusted to producers in Hokkaido, and more than 200,000 trees are produced annually, and trees are plantation in Nippon Paper Industries Co.,Ltd.owned forests.

 

■ About the Creation of the Mitsui Fudosan Group's "Never-Ending Forest"

The Mitsui Fudosan Group has set the Group Vision“＆EARTH”to contribute to social and economic development and the preservation of the global environment. As part of this conservation activity, we have approximately 5,000 hectares of forest in Hokkaido, and we are working to create "endless forests^" with the aim of contributing to sustainable forest circulation while continuing the“Planting → growing → use”.

All of our forests have obtained SGEC certification^*2 (acquired in November 2009, updated in 2024) and are implementing sustainable forest management through plan of the plantation ,human resource development, and logging. In addition,“Biodiversity Conservation" and "excellent forest management and management“21,315 tonne of carbon dioxide absorption per year (from the certification date of January 1, 2023)”has been evaluated for its contribution, and has been certified by the Forest Stock Association. (As of January 1, 2023)

At“Eudromap Housing Complex（163.73ha）”in Rumoi City, Hokkaido, which is part of the Group's owned forests, we maintain a biodiversity environment such as natural forests, riverside forests, and ponds while appropriately managing planted forest such as planthinning. It has been recognized for its contribution to the survival of rare animals and plants designated as endangered Category II on the Ministry of the Environment's Red List, and has been certified as“Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites”^*3 by the Ministry of the Environment and others. (As of March 18, 2024)

In addition, timber that plan cut down at the right time for logging and thinned out for forest maintenance is widely used by Group companies, such as major components,wooden rental office buildings and wooden houses, finishing materials for each facility, as well as flooring materials for residential buildings, office furniture, and benches and playground equipment in common spaces of commercial facilities.

 

*1: "Plant, grow, and use" cycle. Please refer to the following URL for the creation of an "never-ending forest".

https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/and_forest/

*2: SGEC certification

“‘Green Circularity' Certification Conference (SGEC)”to evaluate and certify“ Forests are managed in a sustainable manner”

*3:“Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites”

“Areas where biodiversity conservation is being conserved through private initiatives”is an area recognized by the government. As part of the realization of the“30 by 30”global goal of conserving more than 30% of land and sea by 2030, it will be put into operation as a legal”the“Biodiversity Promotion Act from fiscal 2025, and the three ministries of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism have jointly certified it.

■About the Sustainability of the Mitsui Fudosan Group

Mitsui Fudosan Group, based on theMissionof“& Mark”,「Creating new value through symbiosis, coexistence, and co-creation, and continuing to take on the challenge of "and" economic value creation” We hope that the creation of social value will lead to the creation of economic value, and that economic value will lead to the creation of even greater social value.

At the time of formulation of the new group management Mission in April 2024, the names are “1. Contribution to industrial competitiveness” , ““2. Symbiosis with the environment” , “3. Health and vitality” . , “4. Safety and security” , “5. Diversity & Inclusion” , “6. Compliance・Governance” . We will work on these materialities through our core business and contribute to sustainability.

[Note]

・“Group Long-term Management Policy”　https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/corporate/innovation2030/

・“Group Materiality”　https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/esg_csr/approach/materiality/

・“＆ EARTH for Nature”　https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/business/development/earth/for-nature/

In addition, in April 2025, we formulated the Declaration of Symbiosis with the Environment in Urban Development“＆ EARTH for Nature”, and regarded“Environment”as a unity of nature, people, and the region, and expanded the rich“Environment”. We are promoting urban development that will be passed on to future generations.The key issues in this declaration are“Protect and Nurture Green" “Harnessing the charm of water” “Enriching Ecosystems” “Connecting the Thoughts of the Community” “Recycling natural resources” are stipulated. The efforts in this release contribute to three of the priority issues in“＆ EARTH for Nature”.