The Taichung City Water Resources Bureau today (6th) through the public and private partnership teamed up with hundreds of bureau members and staff and students of Tunghai University led by the Chief Engineer, Lien Jung-Chao, Dean of Academic Affairs of Tunghai University, Huang Huang-Nan and Professors, respectively, from the Department of Land Architecture and Life Sciences, Chou Chun-Wei and Chiang Chi-Min to plant 360 saplings of 17 native arbors in the aged Taiwan Acacia forest on the Tunghai University Campus along the Dongda River to promote sustainability and prolong vigor of the Dongda River.
The Bureau pointed out that during the execution of "the Environmental Improvement Project for Dongda Water Environment and the Surrounding Areas," ecological checkup works were carried out discovered that the Taiwan Acacia forest planted since the establishment of Tunghai University were already 65 years old. Normally, the average life of the Taiwan Acacia is only 70 years old. Trees were dying and with the planting of a single species, if no improvement is made in time, this forest will disappear. To solve this ecological issue, the Bureau especially included the 0.2 hectare Taiwan Acacia forest adjacent to its construction area into the area for improvement. Through the mechanism of private-public partnership, the Bureau team and Tunghai faculty and students jointly planted 360 saplings including 17 shade-bearing saplings species of the native arbor selected by ecological professionals and inspected and approved by the Green Plantation Team of Tunghai University such as Autumn Maple Tree, Chinese Tallow, Camphor, Common Elaeocarpus, Pistacia, Konishii Tanoak, Taiwan Photinia, Red Nanmu, Blue Japanese Oak, Zelkova, Zuiho Machilus, Taiwan Gordonia, Large-leaved Nanmu, Elm, Flying Moth Tree and Sapindus. It was expected that after several decades, when walking along the Dongda River, walkers will enjoy the scene of a dense forest of trees with diverse species.
Director General, Fan Shi-Yi, further said that the Project was commenced since February 20th, 2020 and at present, 67% of the Project has been completed. He expected that the whole project will be completed this April (2021). Construction contents included the on-site water quality improvement facility with daily treatment capacity of 10,000CMD and restaurants in the upstream watershed area were also encouraged to install water oil separation systems to reduce pollution from sources. Meanwhile, treated water was discharged to the early irrigation ditch and now dried Dashe Branch on campus to restore historical memories of the canal. Additionally, a small-scale micro hydraulic power generation facility is installed to make use of the water energy from the gravity flow of effluents for the use of street lamps along the canal. With the efficiency of carbon reduction and energy conservation, in the future, ecological effectiveness will be created after water quality improvement. Incorporated with the dense and diverse forest and the "Dongda River Cultural and Environmental Education Center" now on trial operation that combines with the promotion concept of water culture, the whole Project improved water quality and restored culture, ecology, and environmental education by building water safety, environment, and culture with water resources construction! (1/6*11)* The Water Resources Bureau
Contact person: Ms. Teng at the Taichung City Water Resources Bureau
Contact telephone number: 04-22289111 extn. 53408