The Chinese president promotes environmental conservation on Arbor Day

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

On Arbor Day, President Tsai Ing-wen, accompanied by faculty and students from National Chengchi University, took a hands-on approach to environmental conservation by planting various native tree species. The event, orchestrated by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, sought to instill a greater sense of environmental responsibility among participants. The species planted included Japanese blue oak, woodland elaeocarpus, red machilus, Chinese dogwood, and Taiwan trident maple, among others.

President Tsai emphasized the multifaceted benefits of such initiatives, noting their potential to enhance air quality, contribute to climate regulation, and safeguard biological diversity. She also highlighted the educational component of the event, which aimed at acquainting citizens with the rich diversity of Taiwan’s native trees.

Moreover, President Tsai expressed her aspiration for these tree-planting endeavors to spark innovation, particularly in the realms of eco-tourism and agriculture. She envisioned these sectors leveraging the economic potential of sustainable forests, especially in the face of the climatic challenges confronting Taiwan’s forested areas.

In a concerted effort to promote reforestation, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has declared March as a tree-planting month, organizing 163 related activities nationwide. With Taiwan’s forests currently mitigating 7.36% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, there is a strategic plan underway to increase this contribution. By 2040, the aim is to enhance the carbon dioxide offset by domestic forests to the equivalent of 10 million metric tons.

To achieve this ambitious goal, the agency is not only focusing on afforestation and improved forest management but also on developing tree farms. Furthermore, it is encouraging local businesses to engage in these efforts as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives, underlining a collective approach to environmental stewardship.

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