On December 1 (‘23), the NPUST Department of Forestry and Ching Jinglin Education Foundation held their annual tree-planting activity at the NPUST’s “Baoli Practice Farm”. The cooperative project, which began in 2019, has become a model for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and university social responsibility (USR). Over the past five years, 4,000 saplings have been successfully planted as a result of the activity, with a survival rate of over 90%. Taking account for biodiversity, the tree species planted this year include such native species as Philippine drypetes, Cinnamomum reticulatum, and persimmon.
NPUST president, Chin-Lung Chang, participated in the event this year. He was joined by teachers and students from the university, as well as teams from off-campus who represent banks involved with ESG and related policies, including the Agricultural Bank of Taiwan, Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Chang Hwa Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, Bank of Kaohsiung, King’s Town Bank, Bank SinPac, Taichung Bank and Taiwan Business Bank.
NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang emphasized the value of corporate cooperation and pointed out the vital role that the Department of Forestry plays in ensuring the success of tree planting. Ching Jinglin Education Foundation chairman, Cong Lin Lin, was very touched that so many peoples attended this year. He commented that, “afforestation is a century-long project. No matter how the world changes in the future, the earth still needs forests. The saplings planted now will become a forest in a hundred years and complete the ecological chain”.
Jui-Fen Yang, Pingtung Branch Director of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, was very affirmative of the efforts being made by the university and corporate representatives. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon sink calculations, generally speaking, one hectare of afforestation can reduce greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere by around 10 tons per year. This means that the trees planted via the joint project are reducing greenhouse gasses by at least hundreds of tons per year! This year, Taiwan followed in the footsteps of many nations by establishing its first carbon exchange, and the government is currently studying various methods of carbon trading. Expectations are that through the cooperation of various government agencies, universities and corporations, considerable ground will be covered in the effort to improve the environment.
