News Oct. 30, 2025
Hioki Forest Hills Certified as an OECM Site under Japan’s Act on Promoting Activities to Enhance Regional Biodiversity
Hioki is pleased to announce that Hioki Forest Hills was certified in September 2025 as a Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site (an “other effective area-based conservation measure,” or OECM) under Japan’s new Act on Promoting Activities to Enhance Regional Biodiversity, jointly enacted by the Ministry of the Environment; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This certification highlights the importance of biodiversity conservation by corporations and represents a significant contribution to international environmental goals.
Certification ceremony held on September 30, 2025
Certificate
Background and Significance
New Legislation and Global Framework
Beginning in FY2025, the Ministry of the Environment; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism jointly implemented the Act on Promoting Activities to Enhance Regional Biodiversity to promote nature-positive initiatives by companies, municipalities, and local organizations. The law supports Japan’s achievement of the “30by30” goal, part of the global Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted in December 2022.
The “30by30” initiative is an international effort to designate 30% of land and sea areas as protected or conserved by 2030. In Japan, the Ministry of the Environment has incorporated this goal into its National Biodiversity Strategy and is encouraging the registration of Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites (OECMs), including corporate and urban green spaces.
The Growing Importance of Biodiversity in Corporate Management
With increasing global attention on nature-related risks and opportunities through the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), corporate efforts to adopt nature-positive business practices are taking on new significance. Hioki also considers these activities important and, in 2024, expressed support for the TNFD disclosure recommendations. We are actively promoting biodiversity conservation activities centered on Hioki Forest Hills. We’re also currently preparing to disclose these initiatives in our FY2025 reporting.
Alongside addressing social issues through our electrical measuring instrument business, we will continue to work with stakeholders to sustainably manage natural capital and realize a nature-positive future.
Benefits of This Certification
1.Alignment with Global Commitments
Recognition as an OECM site directly supports the GBF’s goal of conserving 30% of land and sea through protected areas and OECMs and serves as evidence of a corporation fulfilling its global responsibilities.
2.Co-Creation with Local Communities
Through partnerships with local residents, municipalities, and educational institutions, we will advance co-creative activities that enhance regional value.
3.Enhancing Corporate Value
From an ESG perspective, proactive biodiversity initiatives earn praise from investors and customers and are expected to boost long-term corporate competitiveness.
What Are Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites (OECMs)?
In Japan, Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites, which are designated by the Ministry of the Environment, are areas preserved and managed to protect biodiversity across the country. Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are conservation measures outside traditional protected areas such as national parks, allowing for region-specific management.
About HIOKI Forest Hills
Hioki Forest Hills is a factory park created in 1988 when Hioki relocated its headquarters from the town of Sakaki to the city of Ueda. At the time, all 600 employees participated in planting 60,000 trees of about 40 species. This effort was made with the hope that the forest would become a place of comfort and healing for future generations of Hioki employees. Now, 37 years later, a forest suitable for a factory park surrounds our headquarters
Related Links
HIOKI Sustainability Activities
Ministry of the Environment 30by30
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About HIOKI
Established in 1935, HIOKI E.E. CORPORATION (TSE: 6866) has grown to become a world leader in providing consistent delivery of test and measuring instruments through advanced design, manufacturing, and sales and services. By offering over 200 main products characterized by safety and quality while meeting an expansive range of applications, we aim to contribute to the efficiency and value of our customers' work in research and development, production and electrical maintenance. Hioki products and services are available around the world through our extensive network of subsidiaries and distributors. For more information, visit us at www.hioki.com.