Vice President Hsiao visits Haomeili beach restoration in Chiayi, praises public-private partnership

Central News Agency, Chiayi, May 24. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim joined a reforestation event organized by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan's Chiayi Presbytery at Haomeili Beach in Chiayi County today. She thanked the volunteers for their long-term cooperation with the government, noting that their efforts have successfully restored 35 hectares of land. Vice President Hsiao, Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming, Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, and Legislator Tsai Yi-yu planted trees alongside over 100 volunteers. Hsiao praised the transformation of the Haomeili coastal forest as a model of public-private partnership, noting that it began with local residents planting trees to block wind and sand, later joined by government agencies. Magistrate Weng pointed out that extreme weather and coastal erosion once caused severe sandstorms, threatening local aquaculture and residents' lives, but the situation has been reversed through reforestation and sand-trapping efforts. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Chiayi Branch stated that the Haomeili coastal forest serves as a vital barrier. Since 2017, they have collaborated with the church to install sand fences and plant trees, successfully restoring the beach. The project was recognized with a 2022 Green Destinations Story Award and was a finalist at the 2023 ITB Berlin trade show.