Global Coral Reef Conservation Project
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is also actively pursing a wide variety of social contribution programs worldwide aimed at helping conserve the environment and bettering society as a whole.
The Global Coral Reef Conservation Project, which is one of the environmentally focused projects, supports scientific research through the combined efforts of industry, academia and the general public.
This project has been approved as a partnership project by the Japan Committee of the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity (UNDB-J)
Global Coral Reef Conservation Project Activities
To restore beautiful coral reefs
The project is developing research, pursuing many different angels, for coral reef conservation and the main research of the project centers on three global locations: Okinawa, the Seychelles and Australia (we replaced our Midway Atoll programme with the latter in March 2011). In Japan, the Project is headed up by Professor Yoshimi Suzuki from Shizuoka University's Graduate School of Science and Technology, who is one of the country's foremost authorities on coral research. The Project's research taking place in Japan focuses on the bleaching phenomenon and is conducted at Sesoko Station, which is operated by the University of the Ryukyus in Motobu, Okinawa.
In fiscal 2006, research began at both the Marine Protected Area of the United States' Midway Atoll and at the many-island nation of the Republic of Seychelles located in the Indian Ocean. The Midway programme came to an end in March 2011, and a new project in Australia's Great Barrier Reef has now begun. Currently, we are doing research from different angles in our research basis in Okinawa and Australia. The research that has elucidated the causes and mechanism of the coral bleaching phenomenon has been well recognized worldwide.
Okinawa
Okinawa is where Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) started its research of coral reefs in 2005. Professor Yoshimi Suzuki of Shizuoka University leads this project, which is a partnership between Shizuoka University, University of the Ryukyus, to elucidate the causes and mechanism of the coral bleaching phenomenon, to conserve reef health, and to establish and disseminate scientific recovery methods.
Details of the Okinawa Site:
| Project Partners: |
Shizuoka University University of the Ryukyus |
|---|---|
| Project Leader: | Professor Yoshimi Suzuki, Shizuoka University |
| Project Site: | Okinawa |
| Research Focus: | Research into the causes of coral bleaching, methods of conservation and promotion of reef health and the establishment and dissemination of scientific recovery methods. |
Australia
From 2011, Mitsubishi Corporation has established a new coral reef project in Australia. Working in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and Earthwatch Australia, the aim is to conduct field research on the impact of black band diseases on coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef. In particular, we assess the role of light, temperature and water quality on the disease progression, as well as any seasonal dynamics that may exist.
Details of the Australia Site:
| Project Partners: | Earthwatch Australia, The Australian Institute of Marine Science |
|---|---|
| Project Leader: | Dr. David Bourne, of The Australian Institute of Marine Science |
| Project Site: | Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia |
| Research Focus: | The impact of black band disease on tropical coral reef ecosystems in the Great Barrier Reef, assessing in particular the role of light, temperature and water quality, as well as seasonal dynamics in relation to the progression of the disease |
