WEST POINT, Miss. — Staff at Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi L.L.C.'s factory in West Point held a tree-planting ceremony Oct. 7 as part of the parent company's "Yokohama Forever Forest" project.
Forever Forest began in 2007 as a long-term, global environmental initiative by Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.
More than 300 participants, including Yokohama employees and guests — such as West Point Mayor Robbie Robinson — planted more than 2,000 seedlings of 16 types of trees indigenous to the area, including Cherry Bark Oak, Red Mulberry, Water Oak and Black Cherry.
The YTMM tree planting was led by Kazue Fujiwara, a vegetation scientist and professor emeritus of Yokohama National University, professor of Yokohama City University, vice chairman of the International Vegetation Society and councilor of the International Vegetation Society.
Tetsuya Kuze, president of the West Point unit, said he was "very pleased" to see so many people participate in this "important and beneficial effort. Forever Forest embodies our commitment to protecting the local area as well as the planet."
A key element of the tree-planting scheme is to help absorb carbon dioxide, which YRC said traps heat from leaving the atmosphere, thus contributing to climate change.
Yokohama recently reached its Forever Forest goal of planting 500,000 trees worldwide (nearly 25 acres of new forest) to coincide with the company's 100th anniversary this year.