Biodiversity Initiative for Lake Biwa
– Declaration by Business Leaders in Shiga Prefecture toward a Sustainable Society Rich in Biodiversity –

Shiga Committee for Economic Development has launched “Shiga Business and Biodiversity Initiative for Lake Biwa,” a project designed to promote conservation of local biodiversity and creation of sustainable businesses in April 2009. Members of the Committee, who operate local small and medium sized businesses, are now making commitment to conserve biodiversity of the area of Shiga prefecture.

Declaration Statement

We are aware that our economy is built upon our Mother Nature. The business sector also has responsibility to conserve the rich ecosystem of Shiga with Lake Biwa, as a part of it for the sustainable society and economy of this area. Biodiversity conservation is our challenge. We, business managers, promise to conduct conservation activities as follow through our businesses.

1. We respect Convention on Biological Diversity through our business activities.
2. Lives of people and all livings are first priority. We aim for Shiga crowded with variety of livings.
3. We practice conservation activities for one species at least, or at one habitat area.
4. We do not bring nor enhance alien species to protect unique ecosystem of Shiga.
5. We try to recover the ecosystem network of forest, Satoyama, river and Lake.
6. We support sustainable primary industry such as organic agriculture, forestry and fishing as a foundation of our society.
7. We promote local production for local consumption to create sustainable material circulation around Lake Biwa.
8. We try to incubate sustainable businesses which contribute the conservation of local ecosystem.
9. We communicate with our customers and business partners to extend the action of biodiversity conservation to whole community.
10. We make plan and implement to achieve challenge above.

24 April 2009