April 15, 2024 | Agri-Harvest, Taiwan |
In 2019, Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration approved the nation's first methodology for "natural carbon sequestration" for afforestation and reforestation projects. The Water Resources Agency's Fourth River Management Office was the first to register such a project successfully. The project, located at Dongpu Neixi Eco-Park in Zhushan Township, involves planting 5,500 tree seedlings, expected to sequester approximately 1,000 metric tons of CO2.
The Fourth River Management Office planted the seedlings on 2.25 hectares of land that meets the criteria of being non-forested land prior to afforestation. The planted tree species, provided by the Forestry Bureau's Nantou Division, include Cinnamomum camphora, Acacia confusa, Liquidambar formosana, and Fraxinus griffithii. The project aims to enhance local biodiversity and contribute to carbon sequestration efforts, aligning with Taiwan's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Local community groups are involved in maintaining and monitoring the trees, ensuring sustainable growth and accurate carbon sequestration measurements. The project also serves as a model for integrating flood management with ecological restoration, transforming a former flood-prone area into a flood detention and eco-education park. This initiative highlights the importance of local collaboration and sustainable practices in achieving environmental goals.