"Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town" Certified as "Nature Co-existing Site"

Shinagawa Refra Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroyuki Fujiwara; hereinafter "the Company") is pleased to announce that its "Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town" has been certified as a "Nature Co-existing Site" by the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This certification recognizes the Company's monitoring activities, such as on-site surveys within this area, as initiatives contributing to biodiversity conservation.

Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town

"Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town" is located in the Yoshioka and Miyama districts of Fukushima Town, Matsumae District, Hokkaido (it is the southernmost "Nature Co-existing Site" in Hokkaido as of its certification). It is a highly natural forest that has been maintained with minimal human intervention since its acquisition in 1937.

The area is largely composed of deciduous broad-leaved forests dominated by beech and mizunara oak (98% of the area), and also includes a Japanese cypress-hiba artificial forest which is one of the oldest stands in the region (93 years old). It also plays a role in conserving water resources in the Yoshioka River basin.

Results from on-site surveys conducted by experts confirmed the presence of rare wild flora and fauna, including endangered species, in addition to native species commonly found in the southern Hokkaido region. With its rich ecosystem where these native and rare species thrive, this area plays an extremely important role in biodiversity conservation.

Based on its "Biodiversity Enhancement Activity Plan," the Company will monitor the conditions within the area through regular on-site checks and remote observation using surveillance cameras. Regarding natural disasters and damage from pests and diseases, the Company will conduct interviews with relevant parties during on-site checks and, if necessary, implement countermeasures in cooperation with local governments and through on-site surveys.

Deciduous broad-leaved forest (mizunara oak forest) within the Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town area

Rare wild flora and fauna discovered during on-site surveys (examples)

Japanese crayfish, Ezo chipmunk, Sarumen Ebine, Yushunran

"Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town" Overview

Location: Yoshioka District, Miyama District, Fukushima Town, Matsumae District, Hokkaido

Elevation: 40m - 230m

Area: 20.92 ha

Vegetation Naturalness: 8 (Natural Forest)

Nature Co-existing Site

A "Nature Co-existing Site" is a certification system launched by the Ministry of the Environment in fiscal year 2023 as part of its "30by30" initiative. It certifies areas such as corporate forests, satoyama (traditional rural landscapes), and urban green spaces as "areas where biodiversity conservation is being promoted through private initiatives."

To further promote private initiatives, the "Act on Promotion of Activities for Biodiversity Conservation in Regions" (tentative name), which legislates "Nature Co-existing Sites," was enacted in fiscal year 2025.

Areas certified as "Nature Co-existing Sites" that do not overlap with existing protected areas will be registered as OECM*3 in an international database.

"Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town" is one of the 56 sites certified in the first round of fiscal year 2026. With this certification, the total number of "Nature Co-existing Sites" has reached 610. (As of the announcement date).

The Company's Biodiversity Initiatives

The Company owns several forests in Japan, including "Rifura no Mori Hokkaido Fukushima Town," which has been certified as a "Nature Co-existing Site." Through their proper management, the Company aims to contribute to biodiversity conservation. As part of this effort, the Company joined the "30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity" promoted by the Ministry of the Environment in March 2025.

*1 30by30: An international goal to effectively conserve at least 30% of land and sea as healthy ecosystems by 2030. It is one of the 2030 global targets of the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) of the United Nations, held in Canada in December 2022.

*2 Act on Promotion of Activities for Biodiversity Conservation in Regions (commonly known as the Biodiversity Conservation Promotion Act): A law (enacted April 1, 2025) to promote activities for biodiversity conservation in regions by corporations and others, aiming for nature-positive outcomes, including the establishment of a certification system and simplification of procedures.

*3 OECM (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures): Areas conserved through private initiatives, or areas where management not primarily for conservation results in the protection of natural environments.

*4 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity: A voluntary coalition to promote all-Japan efforts towards achieving "30by30." Established in 2022 by 17 founding organizations, including the Ministry of the Environment, it has over 1,100 participating organizations (corporations, local governments, NPOs, etc.) as of June 2026.

Related Links

Shinagawa Refra Integrated Report 2025 (Biodiversity Initiatives described on P.58)

https://www.shinagawa.co.jp/finance/integrated_report.html

Ministry of the Environment: Regarding the Certification of "Nature Co-existing Sites" under the Act on Promotion of Activities for Biodiversity Conservation in Regions (FY R8, 1st Round)

https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_05186.html

Company Name

Shinagawa Refra Co., Ltd. SHINAGAWA REFRA CO., LTD.

Head Office Location

Sapia Tower 12F, 1-7-12 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005

President and CEO

Hiroyuki Fujiwara

Founded

1875 (Meiji 8)

Established

June 1903 (Meiji 36)

Business Activities

Manufacturing and sales of refractories, design and construction of industrial kilns, manufacturing and sales of fine ceramics, etc.

Corporate Site

https://www.shinagawa.co.jp/