Protecting Taiwan’s Oceans: ASE Foundation Recognized for Sustainable Initiatives

The ASE Environmental and Sustainability Foundation (ASE Foundation), a long-standing advocate for ocean sustainability, actively took part in the Ocean Conservation ESG Matching Program, promoted by the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) under the Ocean Affairs Council. The ASE Foundation was publicly recognized by the OCA at the "Ocean Sustainability Action Awards" held at the National Taiwan Science Education Center. OCA Director-General Lu Hsiao-Yun noted that this honor reflects the tangible achievements of successful public-private partnerships in ocean conservation.

The ASE Foundation highlighted that ASE’s commitment to ocean stewardship goes beyond cleaning marine debris and waste, encompassing broader ecological governance. In addressing the challenges of climate change, ASE’s proactive initiatives along coastlines and seabeds are aligned with global sustainability trends. Through the OCA's matching program, the ASE Foundation launched two meaningful projects: a collaboration with the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) on the "Taiwan Coral Reef Restoration and Ecosystem Resilience Enhancement Project" and a partnership with the Ocean Citizen Foundation on the "Qimei Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Eradication Project" in Penghu – both aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s sustainable ocean ecosystem.

The primary goal of these initiatives is to protect Taiwan's coral reef ecosystems. The Taiwan Coral Reef Restoration and Ecosystem Resilience Enhancement Project is a five-year scientific endeavor that conducts comprehensive ecological surveys and implements diverse coral restoration techniques.

The project aims to strengthen reef ecological function, resilience, and long-term stability while establishing robust scientific data and ecological baselines. This ensures that restoration sites, targets, and methods are carefully selected, fostering co-existing and co-flourishing coral ecosystems.

Simultaneously, to mitigate the ecological threat posed by the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS), the ASE Foundation and the Ocean Citizen Foundation have mapped critical areas with the help of survey teams and marine volunteers, deploying ecological divers for targeted eradication. This initiative aims to curb CoTS population outbreaks and safeguard the precious coral reefs around Qimei.

During the Ocean Sustainability Action Awards exhibition, the ASE Foundation also showcased ASE’s achievements in the circular economy. Products repurposed from waste were showcased as a tangible demonstration of ASE’s commitment to sustainability and its strategic journey from low-carbon operations toward a zero-carbon future.

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For more Chinese information, please visit: https://www.aseepsfund.org.tw/news-detail/237__2/