Environmental Preservation with External Partners

The Kumon Group has been supporting WWF Japan, a member of the WWF Network and a global environmental conservation organization operating in more than 100 countries, through the Kumon Forest Fund since 2014.

WWF was founded in Switzerland in 1961. Its main activities are to protect biodiversity on the Earth and to reduce the impact of human life on the natural environment and wildlife. One of these activities is forest conservation.

WWF Japan works toward sustainable forest conservation through direct activities in the field, such as research and conservation of rare species and reforestation, as well as by supporting local communities and responsible raw material procurement in Japan. In addition, we also conduct public awareness activities through the development of environmental education programs and seminars on the environment.

Through its global network, WWF Japan supports forest conservation activities in countries around the world and is also involved in environmental education. The Kumon Group, which aims to contribute to local and global communities through education around the world, continues to support these activities, as we share the same goals.

In Melawi Regency, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, WWF has implemented ESD activities in two middle schools since 2022. The government encourages learning about the five principles of the state ideology, Pancasila, through project-based learning, and each school designs its own curriculum. However, remote areas face challenges in implementing policies and providing training support. In response, WWF collaborated with teachers and community organizations to discuss educational methods for learning about Pancasila and to create textbooks based on four themes.

Supervised by 300 teachers from other schools, these textbooks will be used to improve teacher skills and expand the program to other schools. One of the textbooks, on traditional cuisine, not only teaches students how to cook dishes but also where the ingredients come from in the forest. This helps students understand the importance of forests. Another textbook on areas of high conservation value provides opportunities to learn about the region’s nature and culture through programs that identify ecologically and culturally significant sites.

Through this education, students are expected to develop a valued Indonesian spirit, such as cooperation, courage in expressing opinions, and proactive thinking.

• *ESD: Education for Sustainable Development. Activities aimed at creating new values and actions that will lead to solutions to various global problems, such as the environment, poverty, human rights, peace, and development, in addition to the creation of a sustainable society.

In Brazil, rapid agricultural expansion and economic development have led to ongoing deforestation. Since 2022, WWF Japan has conducted forest conservation activities in two important ecosystems: the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest (Atlantic coastal forest).

The Cerrado is a vast savanna region in central Brazil that is rich in biodiversity, carbon storage, and groundwater sources. However, its natural environment continues to be lost due to large-scale agricultural development, such as cattle grazing and soybean cultivation. WWF promotes natural regeneration through community support and reforestation activities. In FY2024, WWF identified priority areas for regeneration, held workshops, and began establishing a seed bank to address the scarcity of native seeds. Training sessions on seed collection, management, and preservation were conducted, and a seed management organization was formed.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic Forest has shrunk to just 12% of its original size due to development over the past few centuries, and many endemic species are on the brink of extinction. WWF is collaborating with other environmental organizations to advance activities aimed at restoring 15 million hectares of forests by 2050. In preparation for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30), which is scheduled to take place in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, in November 2025, efforts are intensifying to urge government agencies to discuss climate issues and biodiversity challenges. The goal of these initiatives is to achieve forest conservation and a sustainable society in Brazil.