An ecological project taking place through the cooperative efforts of NPUST and Farglory Life Insurance, has commissioned a professional ecological research team to conduct in-depth field investigations. By using corporate resources, they are promoting ecological conservation and developing environmental public welfare. As part of this, today (12/14) a presentation was held at the university’s Smart Farm to publish the results of NPUST X Farglory Life “Protecting Every Owl” project.

NPUST President Chang Hsien-Tai said: “NPUST is an academic research unit, and its investments in University Social Responsibility are quite diverse. Whether it is research professionals or community partnerships, NPUST’s performance in agriculture and ecology is quite outstanding and socially beneficial. This cooperation came about through matchmaking done by the school’s Office for Cross-Domain Cooperation. The goal is to work with industry to development environmental public welfare and hopes are that through this collaboration, more enterprises will come in to support and respond to ecological matters. Currently, the United Nations is promoting the practice of Sustainable Development Goals and there are many departments at NPUST which could be very suitable partners with businesses who recognize the need for environmental protection.

PhD student Hui-Shan Lin from the Bird Ecology Lab at the NPUST Institute of Wildlife Conservation said: “In fact, at the beginning it was quite difficult to cooperate. For a large company that does not fully understand the ecological conservation of owls, you must first start with the basics. It took a whole year to invest the resources and find farmers and put up perches and nest boxes. Finally, they needed to approve the academic research and jointly carry out the planning of conservation and teaching at rural campuses. It was not just the volunteer partners from the headquarters, but volunteers from the Communications Office of Farglory Life Insurance in the Kaohsiung/Pingtung area who were able to participate. Through repeated cooperative promotional activities, we were able to create other ideas about conservation that we hope to implement.”

Hsueh-Hsin Chao, General Manager of Farglory Life Insurance, said: “I am no stranger to NPUST’s efforts in ecological conservation. In the past, NPUST has been very brilliant in its handling of rescue matters with eagles, owls and other wild animals. This is an opportunity to use the strength of the business sector for volunteer services, care work in rural areas and environmental protection. Through the cooperation of the research team and our company’s marketing department, beautiful sparks are made for conservation. I am looking forward to the future; not just as a year of cooperation, but hopefully, through continuous efforts, industry practitioners or policyholders will identify with owl protection, and within the industry, a cultural awareness of protecting Taiwan’s environment and jointly protecting owls will gradually form”.  

Nguyen Thi Tseng of the Ah-Jiu Pineapple Farm in Gaoshu Township said: “Originally, through an introduction by Taishan Elementary School, we invited project personnel to set up perches and nest boxes in the fields. We also learnt that the ecology in the fields is very rich. Of course, we knew wild boars and eagles came to the field. But more and more animals have been photographed. In the follow-up, the principal and students of Taishan Elementary School came to the fields to film videos and assist with the promotion pesticide free pineapples in their hometown. All the children could be happy and enjoy their time in the field.

This owl project is a challenge for the business sector to take the research that is silently being done into the field. The owl, which symbolizes wisdom, and the pineapple, which symbolizes prosperity, are cooperating with one another. With perches and nest boxes erected in the field, they are promoting the pesticide free pineapples of Gaoshu Township and reducing of the use of rat poison. The work is helping ecological research, promoting environmental and ecological awareness, and at the same time, filling gift boxes with great agricultural products.