Officials expected to take part include Yasuo Tominaga, chairman emiritus of the Yokohama Rubber Co.; Takao Oishi, president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corp.; and Dan King, Yokohama's vice president of sales and marketing.
They will be toiling under the guidance of world-renowned ecologist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, professor emeritus at Yokohama National University.
Miyawaki, winner of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize awarded for outstanding achievements 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 efforts to restore tropical rainforests.
The overall “Yokohama Forever Forest” project intends to plant 500,000 trees at its 18 global factories prior to the company’s centennial celebration in 2017. Forever Forest events have taken place in Japan, the Philippines and Thailand, with 180,000 trees having been planted thus far.The trees being planted in Fullerton are to beautify the area and help offset carbon dioxide emissions. Some 150 people are expected to participate.
This is the second Forever Forest event in the U.S.; last year the company planted numerous trees at its facility in Salem, Va.
For more information visit www.yokohamatire.com.
