The KOBELCO Group aims to coexist and cooperate with society, from an environmental perspective as well. With the aim of preserving and maintaining CO2-absorbing forests for the environment, we have been implementing the KOBELCO GREEN PROJECT since fiscal 2013 as a Groupwide program for contributing to the environment. Our initiatives also include the KOBELCO Forest Fairy Tale Prize, which is designed to foster environmental awareness in children, forest development programs carried out by Group employees, and environmental education outreach to children's centers
The KOBELCO Group collects stories about forests from students in elementary, junior high, and senior high schools across Japan with the aim of raising a generation of children who will carry with them an appreciation for all the many blessings that forests have to offer. The winning stories are transformed into picture books with illustrations by professional picture book authors. Around 2,000 sets of the finished picture books were donated to elementary schools, junior high and senior high schools, special needs schools, and public libraries in jurisdictions supported by local governments.
Moe Nagata
Chair of the Judging Panel
Recently, there were many occurrences which made us notice importance of nature and the fact that we are very fragile and week in the nature. Themes of many pieces symbolize such background in recent years. I think that is one of the characteristics of 8th prize.
The winner of elementary school students' section tried to express the global warming, which is one of the most concerned problem all over the world with fantasy. It is difficult, so that I felt reliable.
Heavy rain was continued and forest was flooded last year, but the winning story of junior high school and high school students' section gave us the hope that forest will definitely recover as long as there are people who love the forest. I deeply appreciate that children get deep knowledge about forest, have hope for anything and provide brighter future.
Forest Development Activities
(Fiscal 2019)
The KOBELCO Group has established biodiversity guidelines and promotes biodiversity activities. Since 2011, employee volunteers have been engaging in forest development activities in two locations.
At the KOBELCO Forest in Miki City, we participate in the Corporate Forest Creation Project promoted by the Hyogoken Ryokka Suishin Kyokai (Hyogo Greening Promotion Association) and help with activities at the Hyogo Prefectural Mikiyama Forest Park to create more abundant forests.
At the ECOWAY Forest in Kobe's Nada Ward, we participate in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Rokko Mountain Range Green Belt Development Project to help prevent landslide disasters, to preserve and nurture diversity in ecosystems and seeds, and to promote better urban environments and scenic views.
*In fiscal 2020, we canceled the activities to prevent COVID-19 spreading.
Kobe Steel is a member of the Kobe Children's Eco Challenge 21 Club, sponsored by the city of Kobe. The club operates environmental education outreach programs to get children interested in the environment so that environmentally friendly activities will continue.
Since 2011, Kobe Steel has offered programs for learning about steel and electricity, the importance of the environment and electricity, and the conveniences provided by steel.
*In fiscal 2020, we canceled the activities to prevent COVID-19 spreading.