JAL 'Eco Jet' promotes Japan biodiversity

In a bid to raise awareness and support for biodiversity, Japan Airlines will have its planes sport the United Nations' Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) logo on its JAL Eco Jet. The Eco Jet, a Boeing 777-200 that flies domestic routes, will also promote the nature-friendly rebuilding of an area devastated by the magnitude-9 quake that hit Japan last March 11. "Airlines play an important role in bridging countries and promoting human and cultural exchanges. As the desire to experience different cultures is one of the factors that motivate people to travel, we recognize the importance for airlines to protect biodiversity, which forms the foundation of the respective culture," JAL President Masaru Onishi said. "Japan Airlines will thus continue its long, sustained cooperation for the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity in ways unique to an airline," he added. The Eco Jet will also promote the nature-friendly rebuilding of Tohuku, an area rich in nature that the March 11 quake devastated. It will support the Ministry of Environment’s “Sanriku Fukko (recovery) National Park" concept and the “Tohoku Cotton Project" for rebuilding agriculture in the affected area. Japanese Environment Minister Goshi Hosono lauded the "proactive efforts" that JAL has made for the conservation of biodiversity. "The Government of Japan is committed to to exerting its utmost efforts in collaboration with companies and others towards the success of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity; in other words, towards the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity," he said. He added he has no doubt the inauguration of this Eco Jet airplane will greatly contribute to mainstreaming biodiversity. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity said the revival today of the red crown crane logo of Japan Airlines is more than symbolic. Nagoya biodiversity Last year, JAL was the first airline company in the world to include the logo of the Nagoya biodiversity summit and its slogan on its Eco Jet. JAL is also the first airline company in the world to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and the implementation of the first Aichi biodiversity target while contributing to the nature friendly rebuilding of the Tohuku region. During the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, the JAL Group was recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Environment as an Eco-First company, with JAL helping to raise public awareness of the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties held in Nagoya in October 2010 by adding the logo and slogan of the meeting, Life in Harmony, into the future, to its Boeing 777-200 Eco Jet. The slogan was featured in the airline’s in-flight magazine, videos, and on various origami and picture books distributed onboard. — TJD, GMA News