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202412/16
With increasing requirements for corporate ESG performance from global investors, consumers, and regulatory bodies, corporate sustainable behavior is not only an image issue, but also a matter of competitiveness and continued development. The Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA Chiayi) and Kedge Construction Co., Ltd. organized the signing ceremony for an ESG matching project at the Chukou Workstation under the FANCA Chiayi Branch’s jurisdiction today (12/16). The project, "Working Together to Plant Trees and Protect the Home of Formosan Giant Cicadas (Formotosena seebohmi) - Reclaiming, Rehabilitation, and Afforestation of Overly-Cultivated Land at No. 58 Forest Compartment, Dapu Working Circle," has officially launched both parties’ joint promotion of ESG collaboration projects. This collaboration departs from the traditional model of government departments solely accepting corporate adoption. By fostering public-private partnerships, it encourages diverse participation and enables companies to concretely realize their ESG goals. During the ceremony, the FANCA Chiayi Branch and Kedge Construction jointly revealed the project goals in afforestation,F. seebohmi habitat restoration, environmental education promotion, and under-forest economy development. The project will prioritize environmental and ecological conservation, foster community participation, and ultimately drive local economic development. Both parties will work together to address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity crisis, and local economic development.
The FANCA Chiayi Branch stated that in response to the 2050 net-zero emission goal and the increasing needs of enterprises to achieve sustainable goals such as natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, and social responsibility, the FANCA established the "Carbon Sink and Biodiversity ESG Project Matching Platform" to provide project participation opportunities and matchmaking services for companies’ ESG disclosure needs. Through the platform, companies and local governments communities can work together to achieve environmental sustainability goals. It is also hoped that the platform can promote local co-prosperity. The FANCA Chiayi Branch successfully matched with Kedge Construction through the matching platform to implement ESG projects. From project selection to work plan formulation, the FANCA Chiayi Branch actively assisted and responded to the needs of the company. To ensure project planning aligned with real-world needscurrent situations and enhance efficiency, they conducted on-site surveys and convened work meetings with affiliated units to discuss project implementation. The projects also incorporated local communities and indigenous tribal partners to achieve the sustainable development goals of sustainable corporate management and social responsibility implementation. By participating in such projects, Kedge Construction incorporated biodiversity and natural capital into its corporate business strategy. Not only does this meet the core needs of ESG and Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), but also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the concrete implementation of net-zero carbon emission policies.
Kedge Construction increased forest carbon sequestration through tree planting projects. They also brought together the participation of the Caoshan Community and the Sinvi NiahosaSinmei Tribal Community to promote wildlife conservation in the agricultural and forestry areas of low-elevation mountains, creating a high-quality habitat for the Formosan giant cicadaF. seebohmi. This initiative not only underscored the company's commitment to environmental sustainability but also served as a crucial catalyst for fostering joint conservation efforts with local communities. Kedge Construction also leveraged its corporate advantages to promote products of under-forest economy, boosting local economic development. The project implementation content is as follows:
I. Creating a habitat for the Formosan giant cicada (Formotosena seebohmi)F. seebohmi to conserve biodiversity
This project focused on habitat reconstruction and environmental protection of the Formosan giant cicadaF. seebohmi, a rare and valuable species. Kedge Construction worked with the Sinvi NiahosaSinmei Tribal Community to jointly carry out afforestation and forest tending, as well as to restore the Formosan giant cicadaF. seebohmi’s host plant, Formosan reevesia (Reevesia formosana), to create a high-quality habitat and ensure the sustainability of the species’ survival.
II. Promoting environmental education and building community conservation capabilities
Organized eco-toursecotourism and educational promotion activities together with the Caoshan Community to cultivate local conservation capabilities. Promoted community participation and support for conservation actions through the education and promotion of environmental conservation and the participation of employees.
III. Using rolling monitoring surveys to ensure ecological stability
National Chiayi University was commissioned to conduct on-site ecological survey and monitoring to ensure the stability of the overall ecosystem during the implementation process. Rolling adjustments were made based on the monitoring results to achieve the best conservation effect.
IV. Combining the forest economy and revitalizing local industries
Kedge Construction partnered with Caoshan Community and Shizi Shihzhi Community to expand the sales channels for under-forest economy products through corporate shopping malls and e-commerce platforms. They also promoted the development of sustainable forestry, revitalized the local economy, and created diversified values by focusing on the principle of "taking into account production, lifestyle, and the ecosystem."