In line with Earth Day on the 22nd, Lam Research, a global semiconductor equipment company, made headlines for its domestic environmental conservation activities. Efforts to protect endangered species such as cranes and Asiatic black bears are continuing. As part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities, Lam Research is accelerating environmental conservation activities in line with this year's Earth Day theme, 'Invest In Our Plant'.
There are about 6,700 red-crowned cranes and white-naped cranes that visit Cheolwon, Gangwon-do, during the winter season, a natural phenomenon. The number of cranes that visited South Korea in 2012 has more than tripled. The hidden cause of this change is Lam Research Korea. Lam Research Korea established a relationship with the cranes in 2016 by signing a partnership with the National Nature Trust. The National Nature Trust is a special corporation under the Ministry of Environment created by the 'Act on the National Trust of Cultural Heritages and National Environmental Assets.'
Lam Research Korea executives, employees and their families visited the 'Cranium Rice Paddy' located in Yangji-ri, Cheorwon-gun during spring and autumn. They have been preparing food for cranes that visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Cheolwon-gun during the winter by planting and harvesting rice together with the residents.
Since January of last year, activities to protect cranes have been expanded. They supported the National Nature Trust by launching a crane protection campaign. They contributed to activities such as monitoring crane habitats to conserve crane populations, patrolling to prevent illegal poaching, installing and managing protection facilities, and feeding them during the winter. Feeding was carried out 3 times a week from late autumn to early spring. A population count was also conducted once a month.
Byung-jong Kim, team leader of the National Nature Trust, said, “We were able to significantly increase the population of the endangered species of cranes by securing landowner's 'crane rice fields', and feeding them throughout the winter.” Lam Research Korea and the National Nature Trust will establish a systematic plan with the community to protect the cranes in the DMZ area, based on the monitoring results.
Lam Research Korea's nature conservation activities were not limited to cranes. In 2014, the company sponsored the 'Luxury Ecology Axis' project, which expanded the habitation space of Asiatic black bears in Jirisan National Park to Deogyusan National Park. This activity led to the participation of the Ministry of Environment, Korea Expressway Corporation, and Jangsu-gun, Jeollabuk-do, serving as a starting point for completing the first project to restore the luxury ecology axis in 2019. The number of Asiatic black bears increased from 34 in 2014 to 69 in 2020, following 48 in 2016.
In 2020, they carried out activities to protect the wild habitats of Okcheon-gun, North Chungcheong, famous for fireflies. Fireflies are an environmental indicator that can determine the degree of habitat and environmental pollution in a clean environment. They are also a protected species whose population is gradually decreasing due to urban development. Lam Research supported the restoration and purification of the firefly habitat in Ahnteo Village and the Geumgang ecosystem, which were damaged by torrential rain.
Sang-won Lee, general manager of Lam Research Korea, said, "The reason why Lam Research is paying close attention to community biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, is to improve the quality of our lives," adding, "Lam Research's ecosystem conservation activities for future generations will continue."
By Staff Reporter Dong-jun Kwon djkwon@etnews.com