NPO Greens and Invox Inc. Launch "Watershed Regeneration Support Program" for Corporate Environmental Restoration Support

NPO Greens (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Co-representatives: Nao Suzuki, Shotaro Uehara, Eriko Masumura; hereinafter "Greens") and Invox Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Akira Yokoi; hereinafter "Invox") will launch a program in July 2026 to support individuals and organizations working on environmental regeneration, including watershed regeneration, across Japan.

This program supports individuals and organizations engaged in natural environment regeneration and sustainable regional development from the perspective of "watersheds," connecting forests, rivers, and seas. It targets activities rooted in local wisdom and practice, such as the regeneration of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; the conservation of satoyama, satoumi, and river areas; the protection of water sources; the recovery of biodiversity; and the creation of regional economies based on local culture. The program will support initiatives that serve as model cases for watershed regeneration.

While this program begins as a collaboration between the two companies, its future aim is to evolve into a system that makes it easier for corporations to engage with regional and environmental issues. For the first year, fiscal year 2026, support has been decided for three organizations. From fiscal year 2027 onwards, support will be provided through a public application process.

Background and Objectives

Across Japan, movements for natural environment regeneration and sustainable regional development are emerging from the perspective of "watersheds" that connect forests, rivers, and seas. However, for watershed regeneration initiatives that require the involvement of stakeholders beyond administrative boundaries and collaboration across diverse fields such as fisheries, agriculture, and forestry, a lack of funding, organizational capacity, and specialized knowledge often presents hurdles to the sustainability and expansion of activities.

On the other hand, while companies are increasingly motivated to contribute to social and environmental issues, many express concerns such as "I don't know where to start" or "I have no means to connect with organizations on the ground," highlighting a lack of established support systems.

In response to these challenges, Greens and Invox have decided to launch this program, pooling their respective strengths to provide more effective support to those working on environmental regeneration and to build a system that facilitates corporate participation in solving social and environmental issues.

Specifically, from the perspective of "watersheds" connecting forests, rivers, and seas, the program aims to re-establish the relationship between people and nature and restore the inherent health of the land. By supporting citizens and organizations active in regions across Japan, it seeks to regenerate not only the natural environment but also society and ourselves.

What the Two Companies Offer

NPO Greens

Years of expertise in environmental and social issues; know-how in launching and supporting projects with local governments and stakeholders; networks of experts and members; coverage and dissemination of activities.

Invox Inc.

Know-how in business development; funding for activities.

Supported Organizations for FY2026 (First Year)

In the first year, activities will commence with support for the following three organizations:

1 Hyogo Watershed Regeneration Lab (Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City)

This group consists of individuals working on improving and protecting the canal environment in the Wada-misaki area, near the center of Kobe City, primarily involving fishermen engaged in activities such as seine net fishing, along with creators active in the region.

With the aim of preserving rich satoumi for the future, they are working on initiatives such as releasing clams and developing seaweed beds for species like *amamo* (eelgrass) in the canals, while also fostering exchanges with the satoyama area to create opportunities for children to learn about the environment throughout the watershed.

URL: https://hyogocanalproject.site

2 General Incorporated Association Tsushima Satoyama Keieijuku (Nagasaki Prefecture, Tsushima)

"Satoyama" environments are created by people who deeply understand nature's mechanisms and have benefited from its bounty.

With a mission to pass on the human activities that have coexisted with nature for generations, this organization is engaged in sustainable regional development and human resource development through green tourism, ecotourism, and educational activities using these approaches.

URL: https://www.satoyama-keieijuku.com

3 Yakushima Mountain Guide Federation (Kagoshima Prefecture, Yakushima)

Established in 2015, primarily by members of the mountain division of "Yakushima Certified Guides" under Yakushima Town ordinance. With ecotourism as its philosophy, the federation engages in "environmental conservation," "regional revitalization," and "tourism promotion" that individual guides cannot achieve alone, working to pass on the natural environment and local culture to the future.

Since 2021, they have also been involved in maintaining hiking trails using near-natural construction methods, and are focusing on conserving mountain environments in cooperation with local governments and private companies.

URL: http://yaku-ren.com/

Two Stages of Support

This program offers two stages of support, depending on the situation of the supported organization:

◎ Seed Stage

This stage targets individuals and organizations who have a vision for activities related to watershed regeneration, whose activities are recognized as innovative and valuable as knowledge, but who require support in areas such as planning and organizational structure development for launching their projects. Support is provided from hypothesis testing and business plan formulation through to building a foundation for organizing and launching the activities as a business.

◎ Activity Stage

This stage targets organizations that have begun activities as an organization and business based on their formulated plans. Comprehensive support is provided for the continuation and expansion of activities, including funding, utilization of expert networks, and promotion of activities.

Future Development

Starting with the collaboration between the two companies, this program aims to expand into a system that allows more corporations to participate in regional environmental regeneration. From fiscal year 2027 onwards, applications for supported organizations will be accepted through a public call, and plans are underway to consider participation and sponsorship from corporations and organizations.

Comments

Shotaro Uehara, Co-representative, NPO Greens

Forests, villages, rivers, seas. As our society pursued growth and efficiency, the connections that should exist were lost. Forests have become overgrown, rivers have flooded, and seas have become impoverished. However, by human intervention, we can restore healthy relationships. Through this program in collaboration with Invox, we want to support organizations working on watershed regeneration nationwide and foster hope. It is too early to give up.

Akira Yokoi, President, Invox Inc.

We operate our business with the goal of "brightening the future for children through business." This initiative with Greens is a step towards realizing that goal. We want to work with Greens to create a cycle where economic value generated by corporate activities connects with socially valuable activities, and those activities, in turn, foster better companies and a better society.

Company Overviews

NPO Greens

NPO Greens is a non-profit organization aiming for a "happy society overflowing with mutually beneficial connections." It is necessary for the future society to redesign the relationships between people, and between people and nature. To achieve this, we support "individual transformation and practice" through initiatives such as operating the web magazine "greenz.jp," providing environmental education programs including "Regenerative Design College," and the "WORK for GOOD" employment and career support service.

Organization Name: NPO Greens

Established: July 2006 (Became NPO in February 2012)

Representative Directors: Nao Suzuki, Shotaro Uehara, Eriko Masumura

URL: https://greenz.jp/

Invox Inc.

Invox Inc. aims to "brighten the future for children through business" and develops and operates the "invox" series, which enhances business value by utilizing data accumulated through the automation of accounting tasks. Since its founding, the company has maintained a "no price increase policy," aiming to increase the productivity of society as a whole by providing solutions that are affordable and accessible to everyone, thereby realizing a prosperous and sustainable society.

Company Name: Invox Inc.

Established: February 1, 2019

Representative: President Akira Yokoi

URL: https://invox.co.jp

Inquiries Regarding This Matter

NPO Greens

Watershed Regeneration Support Program Contact: Manami Nakama

E-mail: ryuiki@greenz.jp

Invox Inc.

Public Relations Contact

E-mail: pr@invox.jp