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Global Environment - Global Coral Reef Conservation Project  
Since 1990, as part of its social contributions program, Mitsubishi Corporation has continually focused on forests through the support of forest regeneration experimental projects. However, as much of its business is related to the world's oceans, the company decided to mark its 50th anniversary in 2004 by giving additional support to the conservation of coral reefs.Although the world's oceans play host to a wealth of marine life, Mitsubishi Corporation chose to focus on the conservation of coral reefs, often known as ‘rainforests of the sea'. This project, which is expected to last six years, began in the 2005 fiscal year. The main research of the project centers on three global locations: Okinawa, Midway Atoll, and the Seychelles. "Bleaching Phenomena" Threatensthe Coral Reefs Coral reefs can be found around the world in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. They are said to be home to approximately 1/4 of the world’s marine life, and many fishspecies that live in the outer seas use the reefs as places to spawn and raise their fry. This function of providing a home and spawning grounds to a wide range of ocean life has resulted in coral reefs being referred to as "tropical rainforests of the sea," a comparison that does not overstate their importance to the marine ecosystem. The coral that makes up the reefs are actually nematocysts, of the same family as the sea anemone and jellyfi sh, but they have a hard, calcareous skeleton and grow in the shape of branches, tables and rocks. Layers and layers of them build up to form the complex topography of the reef. Living coral is many different colors—brown, purple, green—depending on the color of the microscopic symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that live inside it. The coral provides a home and the zooxanthellae use photosynthesis to produce sugar that nourishes the coral in turn. The "bleaching phenomenon" has been observed in many different reefs over the past several years. It is also suspected that the phenomenon is related to global warming, with rising water temperatures causing the symbiotic algae to leave the coral. Unless these zooxanthellae return, most coral will eventually die. As global warming progresses, there is the potential for coral to be destroyed in tropical areas where water temperatures are already warm to begin with. Support for Coral Reef Research at 3 Locations 
In fi scal year 2005, MC embarked on the "Global Coral Reef Conservation Project," a six-year effort to establish and spread technology for the conservation, maintenance and restoration of coral reefs. The research is conducted in collaboration with universities and NGOs as an industry/academia/general public partnership. In addition to fi nancial support, MC also recruits volunteers from among its employees and members of the general public to participate in research activities and deepen their understanding of environmental issues. In Japan, the project is headed up by Shizuoka University Professor Yoshimi Suzuki, one of the country's foremost authorities on coral research. The research taking place through the Japan study focuses on the bleaching phenomenon and is conducted at Sesoko Station, which is operated by the University of the Ryukyus in Motobu, Okinawa. The international environmental NGO Earthwatch Japan also provides cooperation and support by assisting MC to dispatch 10 volunteers to the project twice each year. Half of the volunteers are recruited from the general public with the other half made up of MC staff. The volunteers participate in a half-day training session before diving into the research. They may, for example, be asked to take samples of seawater every hour simultaneously in different locations around the reef so as to investigate changes in the nutrient and dissolved oxygen content of the water, or may be sent out late at night so as to observe what happens when sunlight is not a factor. Other projects requiring many hands to complete include measurement of water fl ow speed and direction to identify tidal currents, investigation of underwater topography and collection of coral samples. The volunteers take care of many of these routine but important tasks. The program lasts for 5 days (4 nights) and includes a meeting to present research fi ndings, making it an extremely valuable experience for all who participate.In FY 2006 the North American and Europe/Africa components of the project began, again supported by volunteers recruited from both inside and outside the MC organization. For participants, this is an opportunity to enjoy experiences and encounters that they would normally never have. It is also a chance for them to be involved in some of the world’s leading research that is taking on issues related to global warming. Using Findings to Help Conserve Coral Reefs Around the World 2008 is the International Year of the Reef with educational and conservation activities scheduled to take place around the world. The three locations where MC sponsors research have begun to produce insights into the impact of different environments and conditions. The fi ndings will be published at academic conferences and in scientifi c journals and will also be made available to the general public in the form of seminars so as to better assist in the conservation of coral reefs on a global scale. Overview of 3 Research Studies 
Activities to date 19 April 2005 A joint press release was issued by Mitsubishi Corporation, Shizuoka University and Earthwatch Japan, which was picked up by various Japanese media sources, including the Nikkei Shimbun. 4 August 2005 A commemorative forum to mark the start of the Okinawa project was held in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture 4-8 August 2005 The first research program with volunteer participation is organized in Motobu, Okinawa Prefecture. 3 March 2006 A symposium, open to the public, is held in Tokyo to report on the progress of the project. 
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