Yokohama Tire Corp. is holding a tree-planting event on Saturday at its production facility in Salem, Va. The company plans to plant 2,000 new trees to help offset the facility’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Yokohama executives, employees and community members, under the guidance of ecologist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, will participate in the event. It is part of Yokohama's "Forever Forest” project that ultimately plans to plant a half million trees at its 18 plants worldwide prior to the company’s centennial celebration in 2017.
This is the first such event at a Yokohama facility in the U.S. To date, Yokohama Forever Forest events have taken place in Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan, with 51,900 trees having been planted.
Dr. Miyawaki, winner of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize, awarded for outstanding achievement in scientific research and its application, is known for his theory of “potential natural vegetation,” or restoration of a habitat’s indigenous vegetation in accordance with its natural conditions. He has helped reforest more than 1,500 locations worldwide, including the successful reforestation of tropical rainforests.
Also taking part in the tree planting will be Takao Oishi, president and CEO, Yokohama Tire Corp.; Tadashi "Ted" Suzuki, EVP of manufacturing and technology, Yokohama Tire Corp.; and Jim MacMaster, COO and EVP, business division, Yokohama Tire Corp. and chairman, Rubber Manufacturers Association.
