Taiwan Ecological Network (TEN) Construction Project

In Taiwan’s terrestrial environment, most forest ecosystems in the Central Mountain Range are effectively protected through the national protected area system. However, nearly 60% of protected wildlife species and threatened plants inhabit areas outside state-owned forests under protection. These habitats—such as low-elevation mountains, plains, and coastal wetlands—are often adjacent to densely populated urban areas. Facing habitat loss and fragmentation caused by infrastructure development and changes in agricultural land use, conservation efforts must extend beyond the traditional enclave-based model and state-owned forests.

To address this, with the support of the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, has coordinated the National Green Network for Ecological Conservation Project since 2018. This inter-ministerial initiative focuses on low-elevation mountains, plains, and coastal areas, aiming to connect and restore habitats, thereby enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems and Satoyama communities.

Through cross-sectoral collaboration, the Green Network Project has identified all key conservation areas across Taiwan. This biodiversity-based spatial planning extends beyond state-owned forests to encompass the nation’s landscapes, including hills, rivers, plains, coasts, and offshore islands. The project provides practical spatial datasets and conservation strategies, guiding ecological restoration and landscape connectivity efforts.

Within the Green Network’s conservation spatial framework, both public and private sectors can continue implementing targeted actions, including ecological corridor construction, vegetation restoration, eco-friendly agricultural production, and biodiversity-sensitive infrastructure. These collective efforts promote habitat restoration, connectivity, and sustainable management.

Project Objectives and Impacts:

Strengthen Taiwan’s ecological conservation spatial strategy by connecting critical habitats such as low-elevation mountains, plains, farmland, rivers, and coastal zones. Expand the ecological corridor of the Central Mountain Range and enhance the ecosystem services of state-owned forests, aligning with global biodiversity conservation goals.
Enrich and integrate Taiwan’s ecological datasets. Through the Green Network’s cross-sectoral cooperation mechanism, support and guide public works to implement nature-based solutions, integrate with national land-use planning strategies, and promote sustainable development.
Integrate diverse stakeholders and develop site-specific conservation tools. Encourage participation of local communities and Indigenous groups in conservation, establish localized guidelines for corporate engagement in biodiversity, and advance biodiversity mainstreaming through public-private collaboration.