- NTU Assists in Strengthening Belize River Disaster Resilience (GLOBAL)
Located in Central America, Belize boasts the largest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere and is rich in biodiversity. However, its location in an active hurricane zone, coupled with the low-lying nature of its densely populated coastal areas, makes it vulnerable to floods and heavy rainfall, causing great hardship for its citizens. To enhance Belize's resilience to extreme weather events, NTU, in collaboration with the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) and the Belize Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, launched the Belize Urban Resilience and Disaster Prevention (BURDP) project in 2019. The project aims to leverage Taiwan's extensive experience in flood control and disaster prevention technology to bolster Belize's disaster response capabilities.
The BURDP project initially focused on governance planning for the city of San Ignacio, a major tourist destination in Belize. Through the integration and updating of hydrological data, disaster prevention infrastructure maps, terrain models, and satellite imagery, the project identified flood-prone areas within the city. Using rainfall and river water level monitoring data, the project provides proactive early warnings on the timing and potential scope of flood events. Our team have also conducted personnel training in Belize. Notably, during Hurricane Eta in 2020, the flood warning platform established by the team enabled the successful evacuation of local residents three hours in advance, significantly mitigating disaster losses.
In 2022, the team adopted a holistic "river basin disaster prevention and management" approach to develop a flood early warning mechanism for the Belize River, the country's most vital waterway. The project included updating foundational geographic information, strengthening disaster preparedness capabilities, and implementing technology-based monitoring techniques. Since 2023, and continuing through 2024, the team has been actively implementing various measures in Belize, including the installation of water level monitoring stations, drone operation training, and fostering disaster-resilient communities. Through technology transfer from NTU, the project aims to empower local authorities and frontline personnel in Belize, work alongside with this diplomatic ally of Taiwan to create a smart and safe homeland, and achieve SDGs related to pre-disaster warning, disaster response, and post-disaster recovery.
- Northern Taiwan River Conservation Center (REGIONAL & NATIONAL)
Since 2015, NTU's Northern Taiwan River Conservation Center has been at the forefront of supporting EPA and local governments in establishing water environment patrol teams to protect local rivers from pollution. The Center provides tailored training programs that address the unique needs of each patrol team in different regions and cover a variety of topics, including river conservation, water quality monitoring, wastewater management, pollution prevention, river ecological monitoring, biodiversity, stream ecological indicators, and introductions to water quality improvement projects. By empowering local communities, we aim to foster a deeper connection to their natural environment and encourage active participation in protecting water resources.
- LTSER Feitsui Station (LOCAL)
The Taipei Water Source Domain is responsible for supplying domestic water to 6.5 million residents in the capital region. This area features abundant water resources and rich natural ecosystems, and it is also a significant tea-producing region in northern Taiwan, as well as a traditional habitat for Indigenous communities. To assess the impacts of land use changes, hydrological variations, climate change, invasive species, and human activities on local water resources and ecosystems, NTU, Academia Sinica, the Taipei Water Management Branch, and the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute have collaborated to establish the Feitsui Agroforestry Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) Station. This station conducts regular monitoring of water quantity and quality, as well as energy and nutrient balances. In addition to ensuring that local water quality is not compromised by human activities, the collection of scientific data helps establish a solid knowledge base for environmental ecological issues and effective governance.
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