Although some 30 million species of organisms are estimated to exist in the world today, since 1975 approximately 40,000 species per year are said to have gone extinct as a result of deterioration of their environment by human activity. One way the international community is moving to address problems related to biodiversity*1, which is the basis of healthy human life, is by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.*2

The Komoro Endangered Species Biotope Project is a social contribution activity aimed at conserving an ecosystem and increasing biodiversity. On the grounds of the Momofuku Ando Center in the mountains northwest of Tokyo, near Komoro City, NISSIN FOODS Group employees are creating a biotope3. It will provide an environment to support insects, including an endangered species of butterfly that inhabits Komoro. Following completion of the biotope, we will prepare a digital picture book of 100 insect species compiled from photographs taken by the biotope’s visitors.

During three days in November 2017, 29 volunteers consisting of 23 NISSIN FOODS Group employees and 6 local residents created the biotope. They swept and mowed the site, piled up logs and raked fallen leaves for stag beetles and rhinoceros beetles, prepared a habitat for long-horned beetles, and dug a pond.

In May and November 2018, volunteers plan to plant flowers and rake more leaves for the beetles.