First 'Tsurui-Seibu Forest' in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park Certified as Ministry of the Environment's 'Nature Co-Benefit Site'

The 'Tsurui-Seibu Forest' in Tsurui Village, Akan District, Hokkaido, owned and managed by Seibu Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; President: Asahide Saito), was certified as a 'Nature Co-Benefit Site' by the Ministry of the Environment on June 30, 2026, under the Regional Biodiversity Enhancement Act. This recognition is due to the presence of numerous rare species and the ideal collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors for biodiversity conservation. This marks the first 'Nature Co-Benefit Site' certification within Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, and the third for our company, following 'Hanno-Seibu Forest' and 'Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho'.

'Tsurui-Seibu Forest' is a vast forest of approximately 3.91 million square meters, entirely located within Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. It consists of birch and mizunara groves, and natural alder forests connected to Kushiro Shitsugen, also serving as the entrance to Miyajima Cape (Ministry of the Environment-owned land), a scenic spot within the park.

Our company is undertaking the following initiatives to maintain an environment where local flora and fauna can thrive, with a particular focus on conserving rare species such as the black woodpecker, which nests in large trees, and the Japanese crayfish, unique to the spring water areas that nourish Kushiro Shitsugen:

- Installing trail cameras (cameras that automatically record by detecting heat) to monitor the habitat of Ezo deer, and piloting measures to protect vegetation.

- Confirming water conditions and sediment runoff in areas where rare species grow.

- Cooperating with Tsurui Village and the Kushiro Nature Conservation Office of the Ministry of the Environment to implement adventure travel* and manage trails appropriately.

These efforts led to the certification as a 'Nature Co-Benefit Site' under the Regional Biodiversity Enhancement Act.

*Adventure Travel: A travel style that allows travelers to experience the local nature and culture through activities, leading to exposure to new values and personal transformation.

Japanese crayfish inhabiting 'Tsurui-Seibu Forest'Public-private joint forest road maintenance activities in 'Tsurui-Seibu Forest'

What is a 'Nature Co-Benefit Site'?

The '30by30 Goal' aims to conserve at least 30% of land and sea by 2030. In Japan, the government operates a system to certify 'Nature Co-Benefit Sites' for areas where biodiversity conservation is promoted through private sector activities, recognized as OECMs (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures).

(Reference) Ministry of the Environment 30by30: https://policies.env.go.jp/nature/biodiversity/30by30alliance/

【Overview of 'Tsurui-Seibu Forest'】

Location: Nakasetsuri, Tsurui Village, Akan District, Hokkaido

Access: Approximately 40 minutes by car from Kushiro Airport

Area: Approximately 3.91 million square meters

Features: Located north of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. The pristine natural environment is home to many wild animals, including Ezo squirrels, Ezo deer, and red foxes.

【Background and Future of Public-Private Collaboration in 'Tsurui-Seibu Forest'】

Given its location at the entrance to Miyajima Cape, known as a scenic spot in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, discussions among our company, the Kushiro Nature Conservation Office of the Ministry of the Environment, and Tsurui Village began in April 2023 with the aim of conserving the area and utilizing it as a tourism resource.

In the spring of 2024, the 'Tsurui Village Kushiro Shitsugen Tourism Content Creation Council' was established with Tsurui Village as the secretariat, and deliberations on the utilization of the Miyajima Cape area intensified. In August of the same year, this initiative was selected for the Ministry of the Environment's Adventure Travel project, and discussions on conservation and utilization through public-private collaboration progressed, including the formulation of entry rules for the Miyajima Cape area.

Subsequently, in February 2025, a partnership agreement was signed by the three parties. Since then, we have been aiming for sustainable regional revitalization through the maintenance and conservation of the natural environment and measures that leverage the tourism resources of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. As the landowner, our company, in collaboration with Seibu Landscape Co., Ltd., which handles landscaping and green space business within the Seibu Group, is engaged in forest road maintenance for nature conservation and adventure travel.

Moving forward, the council plans to hold guided tours, primarily accompanied by Tsurui Village-certified guides (https://tsurui-adventure-travel.com/), in cooperation with our company and the Kushiro Nature Conservation Office of the Ministry of the Environment. With the support of Seibu Travel Co., Ltd., a member of the Seibu Group, we will aim for sustainable forest conservation and utilization together with the region by selling tailor-made tours domestically and internationally, where programs are decided after receiving orders.

Forest road maintenance activities conducted in May 2026 with officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Tsurui VillageView of Kushiro Shitsugen from Miyajima Cape