The Scenic Byways Resource Center, Japan is an organization that is attempting to improve Hokkaido's tourism environment by landscaping roads. The center plans carbon-offset tours in which participants plant trees in the areas visited in order to offset the CO2 emissions produced by the bus.

In July 2007, the center began offering its first carbon-offset bus tour from Sapporo to the Rumoi area on the west coast of Hokkaido. Twenty participants planted about 50 white firs and Japanese larches. Then, from September to October 2007, the center designed a series of carbon-offset tours traveling from Sapporo to Toyako Lake or Furano. Participants of these tours also paid about 1,000 yen (about US$ 8.85) in tree-planting fees.

The Scenic Byways Resource Center intends to offer all future tours as the carbon-offset tours. For tours taking place in the winter or mid-summer, tree planting by participants will not be implemented due to seasonal impacts on trees. Instead, local volunteers will plant trees equivalent to the carbon emissions from off-season tours in early summer.

http://www.scenicbyway.jp/english/index_e.html

Posted: 2008/02/23 11:32:00 AM
Japanese version

TAG Ecosystem , Global warming , Non-manufacturing industry