Tokorozawa City, Docomo, and NACS-J Launch Demonstration of Wide-Area Vegetation and Biodiversity Estimation Technology Using Satellite Imagery

Tokorozawa City, NTT DOCOMO, INC. (hereinafter referred to as "Docomo"), and the Nature Conservation Society of Japan (hereinafter referred to as "NACS-J") will commence a demonstration of "Wide-Area Vegetation and Biodiversity Estimation Technology Utilizing Satellite Image Data※1" on April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) to further accelerate nature positive initiatives in Tokorozawa City. In preparation for this launch, the "Cooperation Agreement Aiming for Municipality-Scale Nature Positive※2" (hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement"), signed by the three parties in May 2023, was renewed on March 31, 2026 (Tuesday).

【Background】

Tokorozawa City, Docomo, and NACS-J signed a cooperation agreement in May 2023 with the aim of achieving nature positive in Tokorozawa City. Based on this agreement, a framework was established where Tokorozawa City acts as a bridge connecting companies participating in biodiversity conservation activities with the region, and the three parties collaborate with advice from NACS-J, which has expertise in nature conservation. Within this framework, Docomo has contributed to improving the ecological network function of conserved green spaces through corporate hometown tax donations, explored the development of an automatic dragonfly identification monitoring method※3 utilizing Docomo's AI image analysis technology, and engaged in employee participation conservation management activities in satoyama conservation areas within Tokorozawa City.

In light of Docomo's "Mid-term Biodiversity Roadmap※4" formulated in 2025 and other factors, and to further achieve nature positive in Tokorozawa City, the scope of cooperation under the Agreement has been expanded to include the demonstration of "Wide-Area Vegetation and Biodiversity Estimation Technology Utilizing Satellite Image Data." This expansion is expected to further develop collaboration and activities by leveraging the strengths of the Docomo Group, such as data collection technology for natural capital using IoT and analytical technology using AI.

【Overview of Initiatives】

When municipalities promote initiatives aimed at achieving nature positive, it is important to identify areas crucial for biodiversity conservation (hereinafter referred to as "Important Areas") and to conserve and restore them. In Tokorozawa City's "Biodiversity Tokorozawa Strategy," important areas within the city are organized and designated from the perspective of an ecological network※5. Under the initiatives based on this Agreement, the "Bodaiju Pond Satoyama Conservation Area" (hereinafter referred to as "the Area") has been selected as the target area for activities.

This time, a demonstration of "Wide-Area Vegetation and Biodiversity Estimation Technology Utilizing Satellite Image Data" will be conducted in important areas of the ecological network in Tokorozawa City, focusing on the Area.

By supplementing traditional field surveys with ICT technology, it is expected to reduce the burden and shorten the time required for surveys. Furthermore, the data acquired through this demonstration will be utilized for registration and monitoring in nature-coexisting sites in collaboration with the three parties. In addition, by collaborating with stakeholders such as local companies and residents, quantitative data will be used to promote local biodiversity conservation activities, formulate new conservation measures, and verify their effectiveness, thereby contributing to the achievement of nature positive in Tokorozawa City.

Through this Agreement, the three parties will establish a new biodiversity conservation scheme through collaboration between the region and companies in Tokorozawa City, and promote its horizontal deployment, thereby contributing to the realization of nature positive in Japan.

※1 A wide-area and continuous vegetation and biodiversity related data collection and analysis method, currently being demonstrated by six companies: NTT Corporation, Bio-one Inc., NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, INC. (formerly NTT Communications Corporation), NTT DOCOMO SOLUTIONS, INC. (formerly NTT Comware Corporation), NTT DATA Corporation, and NTT DOCOMO. This technology aims to support municipalities and companies in formulating their nature positive strategies.

By combining the NTT Group's satellite image data analysis technology with Bio-one's "BiomeDB," one of the largest real-time biological databases in Japan with over 10 million records, the goal is to establish a means for collecting and analyzing wide-area and continuous vegetation and biodiversity related data to support biodiversity monitoring.

(https://www.docomo.ne.jp/info/news_release/2025/03/27_00.html)

※2 Halting biodiversity loss and restoring nature for the benefit of people and the planet. At COP15 (the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity), achieving a nature positive society by 2030 was established as an international mission, with global targets set for its realization.

※3 A method that utilizes Docomo's image recognition technology. An AI model trained on dragonfly images is used to automatically detect dragonflies in captured footage and determine their species.

(https://www.docomo.ne.jp/binary/pdf/corporate/technology/rd/technical_journal/bn/vol29_4/vol29_4_007jp.pdf)

※4 Press release dated May 22, 2025

"Docomo Formulates 'Mid-term Biodiversity Roadmap' Towards Contributing to Nature Positive by 2030 and a Nature-Coexisting World by 2050"

(https://www.docomo.ne.jp/info/news_release/2025/05/22_00.html)

※5 This concept positions areas with excellent natural conditions within the target region as biodiversity hubs, and connects these hubs with ecological corridors to enable the movement and dispersal of wildlife.