FULLERTON, Calif. — The “Yokohama Forever Forest” project plans to plant a half million trees at its 18 plants worldwide prior to the company’s centennial celebration in 2017. Yokohama Forever Forest events have already taken place in Japan, the Philippines and Thailand, with 180,000 trees having been planted to date.

Now, Yokohama Tire Corp. and its employees, under the guidance of world-renowned ecologist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, will hold a tree-planting event at the company’s facility in Fullerton, Calif. Yokohama will plant 500 new trees to beautify the area and help offset carbon dioxide emissions.

This is the second Forever Forest event in the U.S. – following an event in Salem, Va., last year, and more than 150 Yokohama employees and executives are expected to participate.

Dr. Miyawaki, winner of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize, awarded for outstanding achievement in scientific research and its application, is known for his theory of “potential natural vegetation,” or restoration of a habitat’s indigenous vegetation in accordance with its natural conditions. He has helped reforest more than 1,500 locations worldwide, including the successful reforestation of tropical rainforests.

The tree planting ceremony in Fullteron takes place today. On hand at the event will be Dr. Miyawaki, Takao Oishi, Yokohama Tire Corp. president and CEO, Yasuo Tominaga, chairman emeritus, The Yokohama Rubber Co. and Dan King, VP of sales and marketing, Yokohama Tire Corp.