NTU International College Master’s Program in Biodiversity (MPB) Team Wins First Prize at the TSMC Biodiversity Award: Eco Plus! Ecological Co-existence Project Proposal" competition.

 
NTU International College Master’s Program in Biodiversity (MPB) Team Wins First Prize at the TSMC Biodiversity Award: Eco Plus! Ecological Co-existence Project Proposal" competition.

Prof.Chun-Neng Wang, led both domestic and international students from the Master’s Program in Biodiversity (MPB), International College, National Taiwan University, with advisory support from the director of Biodiversity Research Center, NTU, to participate in the TSMC Biodiversity Scholarship and Project Incentive Program. The team was awarded First Prize nationwide for the “Eco Plus! Ecological Coexistence Project Proposal,” receiving NTD 2 million in research funding.

This project successfully advanced through the initial proposal screening and the final on-stage evaluation, and was unanimously recommended for the top award by more than 15 experts and scholars. The achievement not only brought distinction to the university, but also marked the first social responsibility and ecological sustainability research project at NTU involving international graduate students. Competing against proposals from major universities and NGOs across Taiwan, the project ultimately ranked first nationwide.

Project Title: Community Engagement in Restoring Landslides with Native Plants and Local Microorganisms. Briefing: Mountains cover 70% of Taiwan’s land area. In recent years, climate warming, intense rainfall, and human activities have greatly increased the risk of landslides and debris flows. In Taiwan, slope stabilization in landslide areas is commonly done with exotic grass species, while native grasses and wildflowers are rarely used. This has instead led to large-scale invasions of alien species. Despite being called out by the Legislative Yuan three years ago, the situation remains unimproved. The main reason is that neither the government nor horticultural businesses have invested in developing techniques for collecting and cultivating wild native seeds. Furthermore, restoration projects for native plants still primarily rely on the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s low-elevation experience, while the mid- to high-elevation mountain areas—which are critical for water conservation and harbor rich endemic biodiversity—continue to lack slope protection using native grass species. Drawing on nine years of experience in collecting pioneer grass species and raising seedlings within Taroko National Park, we have selected about 30 fast-growing grass species from over 150 plants capable of rapidly colonizing damaged landslide zones and arid rocky habitats. From these, we will test 4–6 grass–wildflower species that not only establish quickly but also provide ecosystem services such as nectar sources, food plants for insects, and landscape beautification. These seeds will be combined with natural plant biostimulants and environmental probiotics (beneficial microorganisms) isolated locally, incorporated into hydroseeding for drone-deployed seed balls with a cultivation substrate, enabling rapid germination on landslide sites. Local residents in Qingjing farm area will also help collect seeds, gather local environmental probiotics, and participate in vegetation restoration. This approach will enable low-cost, ecologically sustainable, and locally adapted native plant restoration to be successfully implemented on-site, with the techniques and experience to be promoted throughout Taiwan.

Award winning website：https://ecoplus-biodiversityaward.com/result-3-1.html
 

Our inter university consultants.

Group photo with local residents in the Cingjing area who assisted with field seed collection

At landslide sites, airborne collectors are used to capture environmental microorganisms and plant-beneficial microbes (such as nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria) from the surroundings of fast-growing native meadow species.

Native Taiwan plant, early-maturing Poa annua grasses possess deep and extensive root systems with high root tensile strength and low water requirements, making them exceptionally well suited for vegetation restoration on landslide-prone and collapsed slopes.

Implemented by

• NTU Master’s Program in Biodiversity (MPB), International College

 

Links

• https://ecoplus-biodiversityaward.com/result-3-1.html