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November 5, 2008 |
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| Toyota Names Environmental Activities Grant Recipients |
Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) named today 25 organizations that are to receive grants under the Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program for 2008*1. The total sum for the 2008 program is expected to reach approximately 200 million yen.
Under the Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program, approximately 1.8 billion yen has gone to supporting 165 projects in 45 countries since the year 2000. The program was launched in commemoration of TMC's receipt of the Global 500 Award*2 in 1999 from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Since then, under the fundamental theme of "Environmental Technology and Human Resource Development Contributing to Environment Revitalization and Conservation", the grant program has supported practical projects conducted by non-profit organizations. Grants are offered in two categories: "general grants", for which the grant sum is flexible, and "small-scale grants", for which there is an upper limit set on the grant sum.
The themes this year are "Global Warming Countermeasures" and "Biodiversity Conservation", both targeted at urgent issues. During the April to June application period, the program received 446 applications for general grants (compared to 373 last year) and 124 applications for small-scale grants (compared to 157 last year), resulting in a total of 570 applications, the largest number to date.
The program's expert, international selection committee, which is chaired by Dr. Keiko Nakamura, director general of the JT Biohistory Research Hall, selected 25 projects (13 general grants, 12 small-scale grants) according to criteria such as appropriateness of objective, continuity and future development, and degree of local-community collaboration. Of the 25 projects selected this year, 17 came under the theme of "Biodiversity Conservation", including a project in Ecuador ("Ensuring Sustainability in Galapagos through Locally Based Education Initiatives"), while eight projects addressed the theme of "Global Warming Countermeasures", including a project in Japan ("The Practical Application of Micro Water-Power Generation in Itoshiro").
*1. Unless otherwise noted, years mentioned are from April 1 to March 31.
*2. Global 500 Award (1987-2003): Presented by UNEP to recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations in protecting and improving the environment. In 1999 TMC became the first Japanese corporation to receive the award in recognition of its various achievements in environmental protection and improvement (such as being the first in the world to mass-produce and sell hybrid vehicles) and its various corporate social contribution activities.
1. Grant Project Statistics by Year and Region*
*Years 2000-2002 not detailed
2. 2008 Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program Recipients
| Category |
Project Title |
Organization (Country) |
Theme |
Implementation Site |
General
Grants |
Project for Lifestyle Improvement in Central Laos |
Japan International Volunteer Center (Japan) |
Biodiversity |
Laos |
| Conservation Coffee as a Tool for Establishing Biological Connectivity |
Conservation International Foundation (U.S.A.) |
Biodiversity |
Costa Rica,
Panama |
| Project to Convert a Short Car Drive to a Bicycle Ride |
Non-profit Organization SHIMADUKURI-NET (Japan) |
Global
warming |
Japan |
| Ensuring Sustainability in Galapagos through Locally Based Education Initiatives |
Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) |
Biodiversity |
Ecuador |
| Promoting Market Development of Technology for Electricity Generation Using Biogas in Rural Areas of Vietnam |
Research Center for Energy and Environment (RCEE) (Vietnam) |
Global
warming |
Vietnam |
| Awely's Red Caps in Assam, India |
Awely, Wildlife and People (France) |
Biodiversity |
India |
| Regeneration of Nature of an Urban-type River Connecting the Forest, River and Sea |
NPO Eelgrass Seed Bank (Japan) |
Biodiversity |
Japan |
| Linking Sustainable Coffee Practices and Conservation to the Market Place |
The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center at the National Zoological Park (U.S.A.) |
Biodiversity |
Indonesia |
| On-Farm Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity in the Sahara |
USC Canada (Canada) |
Biodiversity |
Burkina Faso |
| The Velondriake Network of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas |
Blue Ventures Conservation (U.K.) |
Biodiversity |
Madagascar |
| Training Farmers on Indigenous Tree farming, Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation as Countermeasure to Climate Change in Nyeri and Laikipia Districts, Kenya |
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) (Kenya) |
Biodiversity |
Kenya |
| Promoting Organic Framing along Trishuli River Basin through Holistic Approach |
Development Center (DC) (Nepal) |
Global
warming |
Nepal |
| East Africa Grassroots Forest Conservation Project |
Friends Society for Kenyan Children (Japan) |
Global
warming |
Tanzania |
| Category |
Project Title |
Organization (All Japan) |
Theme |
Implementation Site |
| Small-scale Grants |
Establishment of a Model for "Development of Forests Teeming with Animals" |
Environmental NPO "SHU" |
Biodiversity |
Japan |
| Survey on the Fish Biodiversity of the Tsurumi River Water System |
Tsurumi River Basin Networking |
Biodiversity |
| The Practical Application of Micro Water-Power Generation in Itoshiro |
Healing Village Itoshiro |
Global
warming |
| Nature Experience Courses (Juku) for Elementary School Teachers in the Tama River System |
Tamagawa Juku |
Biodiversity |
| Why not Revitalize the Tenryu River with Satsukimasu (Red Spotted Masu Trout)? |
Citizens' Conference for Clean Lakes and Rivers |
Biodiversity |
| Acorn Planting with Children |
Donguri Mongori |
Global
warming |
| Restoration of Natural Environment and Recovery of Biological Resources in the Estuary-Tideland |
Research Group on the Restoration of Fishery Resources in Yamaguchi Estuary |
Biodiversity |
| Promoting the Conservation of Maruyama Wetlands Based on Scientific Research |
Maruyamasitugengun Hozennokai |
Biodiversity |
| Activities to Maintain a Quality of Green Fields in the Suburbs of Tokyo |
Kurasawa Green Field Preservation |
Biodiversity |
| Project to Create Forests in the Sea |
Kuroshio Zikkan Center |
Global
warming |
| Project to Protect Tsushimayamaneko (Tsushima Wild Cats/ Prionailurus Bengalensis Euptailurus) from Traffic Accidents |
Tsushima Yamaneko Supporter's Club |
Biodiversity |
| Life Experience Eco-project for Children to Cycle Foodstuffs and Fuels |
NPO Greenwood Outdoor Experience Educational Center |
Global
warming |
3. 2008 Selection Committee Members
| Dr. Keiko Nakamura (Chair) |
Director general, JT Biohistory Research Hall (Japan) |
| Dr. Motoyuki Suzuki |
Professor, University of the Air (Japan) |
| Dr. Eiji Hosoda |
Professor, Faculty of Economics, Keio University (Japan) |
| Dr. Ashok Khosla |
President, IUCN; Chairman, Development Alternatives (India) |
| Dr. Peterson Myers |
CEO and chief scientist, Environmental Health Sciences (U.S.A.) |
| Dr. Göran A. Persson |
Chairman, Euro-CASE Energy and Environment Platform (Sweden) |
| Mr. Toshiki Hayama |
Managing officer, Toyota Motor Corporation (Japan) |
Further information on the grant program can be obtained from:
Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program Secretariat
Phone: +81-3-3272-1925 (Mon-Fri: 09:30-17:30, Japan Standard Time)
Fax: +81-3-3272-1926
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