Twenty volunteers from Avnet Japan recently worked on restoring the Ecora Forest, a neglected man-made forest in Hara Village, Nagano Prefecture.
The Ecora Forest suffered from the ravages of war and a decline in domestic demand for timber, as Japanese households switched from wood fires to oil and gas heating. Consequently, the trees’ unchecked growth had prevented sunlight from reaching the lower limbs, leading to spindly trunks and shallow root systems.
The Avnet volunteers, who hailed from six Avnet offices across Japan, banded together with members and staff of the Ecora Club, a local organization committed to caring for the forest, to prune the unkempt conifers. They cleared the undergrowth and removed excess branches so that sunlight could penetrate to the forest floor and encourage healthy, even growth.
“At Avnet, we believe in nurturing both people and the planet that we all share. This is demonstrated by our commitment to cultivate talent among our staff, and by our commitment to environmental goals,” said Yasumoto Mogi, regional president, Avnet Japan. “I am proud of the efforts made by my colleagues at Avnet to help restore Ecora Forest to its former glory. By improving the health of the trees, they are helping improve the health of our environment and, indirectly, the health of humankind.”
From all reports, the day was a tiring but immensely rewarding one for all involved. Miho Nakamura, HR & administration specialist, Avnet Japan, said, “Though the work was physically demanding, it was spiritually energizing to be tending these beautiful trees in the depths of a forest. I felt a great sense of satisfaction from helping create a ‘Satoyama’ (里山), where the natural and human worlds meet in perfect harmony.”
The efforts of the green volunteers from Avnet Japan further Avnet’s whole-hearted commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). By 2025, the leading global technology distributor and solutions provider aims to reduce 50% of its carbon emissions, double its renewable energy mix to 30%, reduce the organization’s business travel emissions by 20%, and divert 75% of its operations’ waste from landfill.
