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Chen plants saplings to help keep Taiwan green

President Chen Shui-bian plants a tree in Pali township yesterday to celebrate Arbor Day, accompanied by Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang, left, and Council of Agriculture Chairman Lee Ching-lung. PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Formosa date palm (Phoenix hanceana) saplings were planted in Pali, Taipei County, by elementary-school students and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday, in commemoration of Arbor Day.

In 1929, the Republic of China government designated March 12 as Arbor Day to mark the anniversary of founding father Sun Yat-sen's (孫逸仙) death on that day in 1925.

"Today we plant cold-resistant, drought-enduring Phoenix hanceana trees to symbolize our resolution to turn Taiwan's forestry into a major part of ensuring Taiwan's sustainable development," Chen said.

Students from Ta-Kun Elementary School in Pali, who took part in the planting ceremony, also heard encouraging words from Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生) and Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).

Su reminded the students of the importance of not only treasuring forests but also preserving the planet's fragile ecological system.

"Don't let the Earth get bald like me. With insufficient hair, baldheaded people fear the coldness in winter and exposure to the burning sun in summer," Su said.

Chen stressed that all Tai-wanese people should not forget that when the Portuguese first approached Taiwan in the mid-16th century, they named it "Ilha Formosa" or beautiful island.

Part of the government's six-year national development plan, "Challenge 2008," maps out an integral development project for the environment, ecological resources, water resources and energy-related issues, Chen said.

Although the positive result of tree-planting might not be seen in near future, the task would be crucial to the nation's sustainable development, Chen said.

According to officials of the Forestry Bureau, many afforestation projects have been carried out in mountain areas to prevent natural disasters and beautify the landscape.

Statistics show that from 2001 to last year, 4,800 hectares of forest land was restored and people from more than 500 communities were involved in such projects.

Chen said the left bank of the Tamshui River deserves to be developed by promoting ecological preservation and environmental protection at the same time.

Tree-planting activities were conducted yesterday in many counties. In Tainan City, more than 1,000 people planted 20,000 saplings in a newly-developed urban area.

Tainan Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair (許添財) said the city is focusing on improving the environment this year to offer residents a more pleasant place to live.

In Kinmen County, where 30-hectares of forest were destroyed by fire last year, about 1,000 residents took part in the county's largest-ever tree planting project. More than 2,000 trees were planted.

More tree-planting activities will be held today around the country, including in Taichung County, where more than 10,000 trees will be planted on a 5-hectare plot of state-own land.

The county has been conducting an intensive campaign of afforestation since 2001 in a bid to repair some of the damage caused by the 921 earthquake in 1999. As of the end of last year, 660,000 trees had been planted in the county.

Taichung County Commissioner Huang Chung-sheng (黃仲生) said by the end of June next year, up to 1 million saplings will have been planted.
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