JT launched its first afforestation project in 2005. The company's forest conservation efforts are conducted in full agreement with forest owners and local governments in the respective areas the projects are carried out. As afforestation projects may involve various methods of forest conservation and maintenance, local communities and forest associations in the respective regions are asked to assist in the management and maintenance of the project sites. In addition to the planting of trees, the company focuses on the other activities including the creation of access roads, tree thinning and artificial pruning. At the same time, JT encourages environmental education and communication with local communities by calling upon its employees and their families to participate in the conservation activities.
Projects outside of Japan
Tanzania and Malawi In January 2007, JT and Japan Tobacco International, the company's international tobacco business subsidiary, initiated a comprehensive program to assist local communities in Malawi and Tanzania to reduce deforestation and improve livelihood. The program covers a 4,000-hectare-area for reforestation and plans to plant eight million trees in each of the countries by 2010(*1). At the same time, the program provides treadle pumps for irrigation and improvement of the condition of wells in the area. The large numbers of trees that have been consumed to provide domestic fuel for households and the tobacco curing process in Malawi and Tanzania have led to defforestation. We have established strong ties with the nations as they are both large suppliers of tobacco leaves. As such, JT has selected the two nations for its environmental conservation projects outside of Japan.
(*1) The project aims to plant approximately 16 million trees in 8,000 hectares, in the eight regions in Malawi and Tanzania.
