Urban Development Project Wins Japan's First AAA Rating from Biodiversity Program

Mori Building Co., an urban development firm, announced November 17, 2009, that its Toranomon-Roppongi District Urban Redevelopment Project was awarded Japan's first AAA rating, the highest possible under the Japan Habitat Evaluation and Certification Program (JHEP), which quantitatively evaluates initiatives for their contribution to the preservation and recovery of biodiversity.

JHEP started with the Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP), developed by the United States Department of the Interior in the 1980s to quantitatively evaluate the natural environment from the viewpoint of wildlife habitat. Improvements to HEP by the Ecosystem Conservation Society-Japan allowed it to develop JHEP for use in evaluating business initiatives in Japan.

Under the concept of "urban life surrounded by nature," Mori Building adopted various environmental approaches since the early stage of its project planning, which resulted in utilizing open areas created through intensive land use as plazas and green spaces. The approaches the company used to preserve habitat and recover species include: (1) recovering regional vegetation consisting mainly of indigenous species and potential natural vegetation; (2) creating large green spaces for enhanced green effect and better connection with surrounding areas; and (3) creating spatial greenery with a high green coverage ratio to offer improved habitat for species.

With this project, the company intends to set a model for future urban green projects, build an ecological network among urban areas, and promote more biodiversity-conscious urban development.

Japan's First AAA Rating Obtained in JHEP Biodiversity Assessment
http://www.mori.co.jp/en/company/press/release/
2009/11/20091117150000001829.html