Dr. Wang Ming-jen, Prof. of Dept. of Information and Communication Technology Management, College of Entrepreneurial Development, proposes a project called “Lanyang Campus of Tamkang University: An Eco-campus of Taiwan Native Plants” after he observed and experienced the natural surroundings of Lanyang Campus with his students in the class “Development and Creation” he taught. Through this project, Dr. Wang expects that Lanyang Campus can become not only a nice environment for study and research, but also an international well-known Eco-campus.

“The species of plants, birds, and animals in Lanyang Campus are very plentiful. I have observed many squirrels, butterflies, and special birds like Magpie, Formosan Blue Magpie, Black-browed Barbet, and Cattle Egret in the campus. I have even captured the scene of Chinese Tree Toad that are rarely seen. There has been a conservation area already in the campus, which is the main habitat of the birds, and the idea of eco-campus is to enlarge the ecosystem of the conservation area to the whole campus,” Dr. Wang said.

Although the project has not been proposed to the school authority officially, it has gained support and a consensus from Lin Jyh-Horng, Director of Lanyang Campus, and other staffs. Forestry Bureau will also donate and subsidize some common azaleas of both native and acclimated species as well as different kinds of nursery-grown plants that are often used in afforestation and conservation.

In the future, if the project is approved by the school authority, it will carry out a tree-planting-and-adopting activity called “One Person One Tree.” In addition, along with the elaborate plan formulated by the original architectures of Lanyang Campus, the project will also invite all the students and staffs of TKU, the related student clubs, guest artists of the school, the sections relevant to conservation and afforestation of Forestry Bureau, the experts in conserving native plants of Lanyang area to participate in this Eco-campus scheme. (~ Shu-chun Yen )