TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Far EasTone has joined the National Property Administration’s 20-year tree-planting plan in Taitung County’s Chishang Township, a national carbon sink project aimed at helping achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
The government-owned land spans 71.98 hectares and will be planted with 130,000 native Taiwanese trees, which are expected to absorb 21,600 tonnes of carbon. The project also involves National Chung Hsing University and Fox Forest Natural Resources, per CNA.
Far EasTone will invest over NT$10 million (US$320,000) to plant native species with high carbon-absorbing capacity and economic value on more than one hectare of land. Company President Ching Chee (井琪) emphasized the importance of addressing global warming, noting that the long-term tree-planting plan can absorb more carbon and promote tourism.
National Property Administration Director Tseng Kuo-chi (曾國基) said the site, originally planned for a Taiwan Railways maintenance facility, will be converted into a forest about the size of three Da’an Forest Parks. He added that it will take six to 15 years from planting to certification of greenhouse gas reduction credits.
Taitung Deputy County Magistrate Wang Chih-hui (王志輝) said the county has worked closely with Far EasTone on projects including 5G infrastructure and telemedicine. He thanked the company for supporting green initiatives in Taitung and encouraged more businesses to join the effort.
Fox Forest Natural Resources President Hu Hui-yun (胡惠雲) said she hopes the project will help enrich the local ecosystem, noting that pheasant populations have been spotted near the site.
Far EasTone added that it is Taiwan’s first telecom operator to have its climate target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. The company aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 from 2021 levels and achieve net-zero emissions by 2048.
The operator is also the first in Taiwan to use eco-friendly SIM cards made from recycled plastic, which reduce carbon emissions by 21% and are expected to save the equivalent of 660,000 plastic bottles annually.
