Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), together with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), our partner for our Malaysian Tropical Forest Regeneration Experimental Projects, co-hosted the International Symposium for Rehabilitation of Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems 2011 from October 23-25 in Kuala Lumpur. The Symposium was held in commemoration of the U.N.'s designation of 2011 as the "International Year of Forests", the planting of our millionth rainforest tree, and the 20 years that have passed since our first tree was planted in Malaysia in 1991. A total of about 600 people joined in the Tree Planting Ceremony, held as a pre-event to the Symposium, where approximately 6000 trees were planted over a 0.6 hectare area. Participants included UPM students as well as a group of 80 people consisting of staff from our Kuala Lumpur office and their families.

The Symposium was attended by roughly 300 participants, including members of the general public and forestry experts from nine countries. Participants presented the results of their research and exchanged ideas on the latest techniques in the field of tropical forest rehabilitation. From MC, Senior Executive Vice President Nabeshima offered welcoming remarks during the Opening Ceremony as co-chair of the event.

The Symposium was divided into two parts: the Public Session and the Scientific Sessions. During the Public Session held on the 24th, following the keynote speech given by Dr. Akira Miyawaki, Professor Emeritus of Yokohama National University, MC presented an overview of our Tropical Forest Regeneration Experimental Project together with introductions of our related activities in Brazil, Kenya, Shanghai and Indonesia. In addition, a Poster Session was held where roughly 50 young researchers presented the results of their research. Awards were given to the top three entries.

During the Scientific Sessions held from the afternoon of the 24th to the 25th, approximately 120 forestry experts participated in research presentations as well as a panel discussion. Researchers from UPM presented results from our experimental forest, and participants discussed such topics as carbon dioxide absorption and preservation of biodiversity.

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) held an exhibit at the Interactive Fair for Biodiversity in conjunction with the COP10 Convention on Biological Diversity. With 'biodiversity' as its key theme, the fair hosted exhibition booths and forums arranged by government and local government agencies, citizens, NGOs, NPOs, universities and companies. Over 200 organizations from both Japan and overseas participated.

MC's booth gave focus to two of its projects, the Experimental Project in Tropical Forest Regeneration which has been running for 20 years, and the Global Coral Reef Conservation Project carried out in Okinawa, Australia and the Seychelles. Details of these activities, including the objectives, highlights and results so far, were given through the use of panels and videos. The booth visitors - totaling approximately 3,000 people - listened attentively to talks given by MC employees, and showed a particular interest in our efforts towards coral preservation.

In addition, more than 500 of the attendees took the time to complete our interactive panel quiz on tropical forests. At the end of the quiz, participants planted trees virtually, which resulted in a pledge on MC's part to plant 51 trees in Malaysia next year.

The booth display was an opportunity not only for MC to inform participants about its activities, but also to spread awareness about biodiversity issues and prompt wider engagement on the topic.. MC plans to continue its efforts to conserve biodiversity.

Since 1990, MC has been implementing the " Tropical Forest Regeneration Experimental Project", and from October 14-18, 2010 MC held a tree planting ecotour in Malaysia as part of the company's continual support to this project.

About 30 people participated in this most recent event including employees of MC and MC Group companies from Japan. During the tour, tree planting was conducted at two locations: inside the Gunung Apeng Forest Reserve on the island of Borneo and at the campus of the national agriculture university Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) near Kuala Lumpur.

The tree planting held in the Gunung Apeng Forest Reserve was conducted together with participants connected with the Forest Department Sarawak as well as local Bidayuh indigenous people. Each volunteer paired up with local participants to plant the trees. The tree-planting method conducted here followed a line-up system whereby rain-forest trees (dipterocarpaceae) were planted in rows to form the primary trees amongst second-growth forest. Each person planted about 20 trees. At the UPM campus, about 600 people participated in the tree planting, including employees and their families of Mitsubishi Corporation Kuala Lumpur Branch, local high school students and students and staff members of UPM. A mixed-species dense-planting method called the Miyawaki Method was utilized whereby 6,000 trees of 48 different species were planted.

Also during the tour, MC volunteers had a chance to do some jungle trekking in a national park where they experienced the nature of the tropics, and which left them feeling more strongly about the importance of conserving tropical forests and the global environment.

Despite it being the period between the dry season and the rainy season in Malaysia, the weather was excellent and the entire program, including tree-planting, trekking and seminars, was completed as planned.

Launched in 2005, MC's Global Coral Reef Conservation Project supports a wide variety of coral research through the joint efforts of industry, academia and public volunteers. The project is centered at three global locations: Okinawa, Midway Atoll, and the Seychelles.

The second volunteer program for 2010 in Okinawa took place from September 18th to the 22nd at the Sesoko Station Tropical Biosphere Research Center of the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa. Ten volunteers, including five MC employees, supported research activities that included collecting samples from the field and recording data related to the geographical make-up of the corals and tidal currents. Back at the research center seawater samples were filtered, analyzed and recorded along with other samples and data collected in the field. Researchers also provided volunteers with a series of lectures on topics related to corals and the current progress of the overall project in order to further deepen the volunteers' understanding.

Launched in 2005, MC's Global Coral Reef Conservation Project supports a wide variety of coral research through the joint efforts of industry, academia and public volunteers. The project is centered at three global locations: Okinawa, Midway Atoll, and the Seychelles.

The five day Okinawa research and volunteer program for 2010 got underway on May 14 at the Sesoko Station Tropical Biosphere Research Center of the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa and wrapped up on the 18th. Ten volunteers, including five MC staff, supported research activities that included collecting samples from the field as well as filtering and measuring the alkalinity of seawater samples and recording a variety of other related data back at the research station. Researchers also provided volunteers with a series of lectures on topics related to corals and the current progress of the overall project in order to further deepen the volunteers' understanding.