TECO and the Chiayi
Branch of the Forestry Conservation Administration have collaborated to
complete the Tefuno Historic Trail Handmade Trail to protect the country's land
sustainability.
TECO
Chairman Mr. Morris Li emphasized, "TECO’s brand manifesto — 'Sustainability
is a natural result of working together for good. ' Our partnership with the Forestry
and Nature Conservation Agency showcases our belief that corporate
responsibility extends beyond industrial innovation to active engagement in
social and environmental sustainability."
The
collaboration with the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency was inspired by
Mr. Mao-Cheng Wu, the 2024 TECO Award winner in the Humanities category, whose
long-standing efforts have advanced local revitalization and promoted the “Mountain
to Sea Greenway, Taiwan” project. The TECO Technology Foundation launched the
“Taiwan Pilgrimage Route: Mountain to Sea Greenway, Taiwan” smart service App
during the award ceremony last year — a tribute to Taiwan’s rich cultural and
natural landscapes. Through a LINE chatbot, the public can now access greenway
information and travel services. Following this initiative, TECO signed a
four-year partnership agreement with the Forestry and Nature Conservation
Agency, formally launching a corporate volunteer program focused on ecological
restoration.
On
May 16, TECO held its first volunteer service event: a three-day, two-night
trail work retreat on the Tefuye Historic Trail. Registration filled quickly
upon announcement, far exceeding expectations. Due to ecological conservation requirements,
the number of participants must be limited to around 30, with 32 ultimately joining
the effort. Led by Vice Chairperson Ms. Pamela Wu and President Mr. Fei-Yuan
Kao, the team trekked to the trail located in Alishan Township, Chiayi County.
Equipped with only hand tools — hoes, shovels, mattocks, and rakes — the
volunteers worked at an altitude of over 1,600 meters in the mountains, the
trail restoration was carried out using locally sourced materials and
traditional methods to repair and preserve the original path. To protect the
ecosystem and minimize impact on the natural environment, volunteers carefully
gathered and transported stones from the surrounding mountains to lay and level
the trail by hand. Through their sweat and effort, TECO’s volunteers forged a
deeper emotional connection to the land and its rich cultural heritage.
The trail
restoration retreat also included ecological education, providing rare
opportunities for volunteers to explore local biodiversity and forestry
history. Vice Chairperson Wu highlighted that the Tataga Trail is home to the
Formosan salamander, an endemic species of Taiwan that dates back to the Ice
Age. This unique creature has a strong attachment to its habitat and cannot
easily relocate if its environment is disturbed. For this reason, TECO’s
volunteers carried out all trail restoration work by hand, ensuring minimal
impact on the natural ecosystem while preserving the integrity of this fragile
habitat. President Kao noted that TECO has long invested significant resources
in ESG initiatives. This hands-on approach to public service reflects TECO's broader
mission to foster environmental awareness and encourage more companies to join
in preserving Taiwan’s mountain ecosystems.
The “Mountain
to Sea Greenway, Taiwan”, one of the Executive Yuan's seven national greenways,
stretches from Taijiang in Tainan to the summit of Mt. Jade. It spans the
cultural regions of Taijiang, Siraya, and the Tsou Indigenous people. The
Tefuye Historic Trail — once a Tsou hunting path and later a Japanese-era
logging railway known as the "Shuishan Line" — is a significant segment
of this greenway, rich with natural beauty and cultural heritage.
TECO
emphasized that from the launch of the Greenway APP service to the hands-on
trail restoration, its involvement clearly demonstrates a sustainable
philosophy that integrates technology, culture, and action. This commitment
also aligns with several targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). By protecting habitats of endemic species and minimizing
environmental disturbance during the restoration process, TECO actively
contributes to Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Land (SDG 15). Furthermore,
through collaborative partnerships with government agencies and civil
organizations in trail restoration (SDG 17), TECO promotes the conservation of
natural and cultural heritage, thereby supporting the development of
sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).