Mito Works, a Base for the Development, Design and Manufacture of Building Systems and Railway Systems Businesses Certified as a "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site" by the Ministry of the Environment

Tokyo, February 27, 2024 – Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501, "Hitachi") endorses and promotes 30by30 as an international target to sustain and protect more than 30% of the land and sea areas of its country by 2030. Today, Mito Works (Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture), which is the base for development, design and manufacture of the Hitachi Group's Building Systems Business and Railway Systems Business, was officially certified as a "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site," by the Ministry of the Environment. It is authorized as an area where biodiversity is being conserved
At the Mito Works, Hitachi and Hitachi Building Systems Co., Ltd. ("Hitachi Building Systems") develop, design and manufacture elevators and escalators as well as Hitachi's control devices and operation management systems for railway rolling stocks. The base has a total of 97,800 square-meters green areas, which accounts for about 20% of the site's total. One of the green area is called the Sagiyama ("Heron Hill"), which consists tall forests maintained and managed. In spite of the urban area, there is little intrusion of foreign species, and rare organisms such as falcons are identified, thus a diverse and healthy ecosystem is maintained.
Hitachi and Hitachi Building Systems maintain and manage these environments, at the same time, have provided places for relaxation to nature and environmental learning events in which employees and their families participate. These wide-ranging efforts were highly regarded and led to the certification of the "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site."
Hitachi and Hitachi Building Systems will continue to strive to preserve the abundant nature and biodiversity of the Mito Works and will contribute to the realization of the Nature Positive (Nature Restoration).

About "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site" by the Ministry of the Environment

In December 2022, at the Convention on Biological Diversity of the 15th Conference of the Parties (CBD-COP15), the Kunmíng-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, a new global target to be achieved by 2030 was adopted and established 30by30. Prior to this, the Ministry of the Environment released "30by30 Roadmap," which summarizes the processes and concrete measures for achieving the domestic 30by30 targets and began certification for the "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site" in 2023. The "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site" is an area certified by the Minister of the Environment for which biodiversity conservation is attempted through the efforts of companies and municipal offices. The certified areas except for protected areas will also be registered in the international database as "OECM (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures)."

Rich Nature and Environmental Conservation Initiatives at Mito Works

At Mito Works, Japanese red pinetrees grow naturally and are maintained close to the shape of the forest at the time of the establishment of the base. At the same time, the machilus and the Japanese hackberry forests, which are presumed to be the potential natural vegetation of the region, are maintained and managed. According to the survey in 2023, 127 species of plants, 2 species of the mammals (by counting the habitat marks), 1 species of amphibian, 2 species of reptiles, 184 species of insects, 2 species of land shellfish, 3 species of spiders were confirmed.
In keeping and managing this environment, in response to the growing awareness of ecosystem conservation, in 2017 we formed a group of voluntary activities for employees to carry out conservation activities. We aim to raise employees' awareness of ecosystem conservation activities and contribute to local communities through events in which employees and their families participate, such as collecting insects, exhibitions at events, and introduction of activities.

Website of 30by30 Roadmap by Ministry of the Environment

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About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.