Kyoto University and Panasonic HD Sign Partnership Agreement to Promote Forest-Sato-Umi Linkage Studies and Achieve Nature Positive

The Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University (FSERC) and Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic HD) have signed a partnership agreement to foster exchanges between the two organizations, centered on promoting 'Forest-Sato-Umi Linkage Studies' and realizing a 'Nature Positive' world. This agreement aims to deepen collaboration in fields such as human resource development, research, social contribution, and the conservation of nature and ecosystems. By combining FSERC's expertise in long-term, wide-area field research with the corporate activity sites owned by Panasonic HD, the partnership seeks to contribute to the development of a sustainable society. Going forward, the partners will apply evaluation methods for biodiversity and ecosystem functions—centered on carbon/nitrogen cycling and environmental DNA, which FSERC researchers have been advancing—to fields owned by the Panasonic Group, such as the 'Coexistence Forest' and factory green spaces in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. They will carry out practical initiatives that lead to the social implementation of research outcomes and create ripple effects in the local community. The initiatives based on this agreement are as follows: 1. Establishment and operation of a joint council for realizing Nature Positive. 2. Human resource development that fosters awareness of natural environment protection and contributes to social implementation. 3. Implementation of research themes related to the evaluation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. 4. Implementation of research themes related to the sustainable use of natural resources. 5. Implementation of research on evaluation methods for biodiversity and ecosystem functions, centered on carbon/nitrogen cycling and environmental DNA. 6. Implementation of research utilizing Panasonic Group's 'Coexistence Forest' and factory green spaces, and contributing to the creation of an eco-network with the surrounding region.