TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kaohsiung City announced Tuesday (Jan. 6) that its reforestation initiative at Jiading Wetlands (茄萣濕地) has achieved a 70% tree survival rate after planting approximately 20,000 trees since 2022. The city government launched the project to transform the barren salt marsh into an ecological haven, despite challenges from salinized soil, strong winds, and invasive plant species. The Jiading Wetlands, a coastal area in southern Taiwan, is home to migratory black-faced spoonbills, an endangered species.
The Jiading Wetlands, once a salt field plagued by severe salinization, faced harsh conditions for tree planting before the initiative began. According to a city press release, the government pooled resources from public and private sectors to remove invasive species like the white leadtree and Brazilian peppertree. The city's Public Works Bureau (工務局) emphasized collaborative efforts to restore habitat diversity and promote soil and water conservation across the coastal area.
The Kaohsiung Tree Planting Association (高雄市愛種樹協會) has spearheaded the tree-planting project at the site since 2022, collaborating with over 70 enterprises and organizations. The association focused on tree planting and nurturing management to enhance the land's climate resilience against environmental challenges. A recent event at Jiading Wetlands attracted 170 citizens, along with teachers and students from various schools, to promote civic conservation awareness.
The Public Works Bureau noted observable changes in afforested areas at Jiading Wetlands, where initial plantings have gradually formed stable green cover. The transformation demonstrates the potential of public lands to regain ecological functionality through sustained reforestation efforts. Kaohsiung City officials stated that community involvement plays a critical role in safeguarding and revitalizing the coastal ecosystem. ◼