Taiwan Releases Its First TNFD Localized Operational Guidelines, Working with Businesses to Move from Disclosure to Nature-Positive Action

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) held a press conference today (August 31st) for the official release of the first edition of Taiwan TNFD Localized Operational Guidelines: Methodology for Analyzing Biodiversity Dependence, Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities. Winning Investment in a Nature-Positive Era: A Handbook for Corporate ESG Participation in Sustainable Mountain Forest Biodiversity Actions was also published at the same time. The FANCA stated that, in the face of rapidly developing global trends in nature-related financial disclosure, in addition to understanding nature-related risks and opportunities, enterprises should further transform the results of disclosures into conservation actions, and work together with local communities, non-governmental organizations, and the government to jointly promote Taiwan’s nature-positive development.

Aligning with TNFD International Framework to Establish Localized Operational Practices in Taiwan
　　In 2022, the UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework identified corporate monitoring, assessment, and disclosure of companies’ dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities related to biodiversity as important areas for advancement. The LEAP analysis methodology proposed by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has gradually become a crucial reference framework for companies to identify nature-related risks and opportunities.

　　The FANCA stated that it has specially compiled the Taiwan TNFD Localized Operational Guidelines, taking into account Taiwan’s unique natural environment, land use patterns, and industrial development characteristics. Based on the TNFD LEAP approach, it has integrated domestic and international biodiversity databases, assessment tools, and spatial maps such as the Taiwan Ecological Network (TEN) to help companies take stock of their interactions with nature from the perspective of their operations and spatial location, further identify dependencies and impacts, assess risks and opportunities, and develop response strategies and disclosure content.

　　Director General Lin Hwa-Ching of the FANCA said that the biggest challenge for companies to adopt TNFD is often not the requirement of disclosure itself, but how to obtain data and analysis tools that are applicable to the local context. The release of the localized operational guidelines aims to lower the barriers to entry for businesses, assist enterprises to effectively link nature-related risk management with practical conservation actions, and gradually build a support system for business participation in biodiversity conservation.

New ESG Handbook Compiles Nature-Positive Mutual Prosperity Case Studies from 9 Companies
　　The FANCA also released a publication titled Winning Investment in a Nature-Positive Era: A Handbook for Corporate ESG Participation in Sustainable Mountain Forest Biodiversity Actions. It was edited by the Taiwan Environmental Education Association with contributions from senior journalists and experts, compiling local practical experiences of domestic enterprises in their participation in sustainable mountain forest and biodiversity actions. The book covers nature-positive corporate sustainability trends, highlighted cases from matching platforms, the ESG practices of companies that combine social impact and nature-positive results, as well as expert analysis of key issues such as climate, nature, community participation, and green finance. The book includes case studies from nine companies, including Kedge Construction, Chailease Foundation, Leotek Corporation, Chunghwa Telecom, Yulon Motor, I-Mei Foods, ASUS, Sinyi Realty, and China Airlines. It showcases how these companies brought together their core business capabilities with local communities and NGOs to engage in diverse activities such as afforestation, bamboo forest management, habitat creation, wildlife conservation, environmentally friendly industries, and mountain forest culture, demonstrating the results of their shared efforts in creating value through ESG and biodiversity conservation.

　　The FANCA said that when facing nature-related issues, in addition to information disclosure, businesses should go further and invest resources in ecosystem conservation, community participation, and sustainable management initiatives. In the future, the FANCA will continue to use the TEN as a spatial blueprint, incorporating TNFD local operational guidelines, the Carbon Sink and Biodiversity ESG Project Matching Platform, and human-biodiversity coexistence areas, as well as other policy tools to support more enterprises to move from “disclosure” to “action.” Together, they will help Taiwan advance towards a sustainable future with nature-positive practices and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.