Cheng Li-chun: National Urban Forest Plan to Launch Next Year to Strengthen Resilience

According to a report by CNA reporter Lai Yu-chun in Taipei on the 26th, to support President Lai Ching-te's initiative to elevate 'urban forests' into a national-level adaptation plan, Executive Yuan Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun has convened the first 'National Urban Forest Promotion Committee.' She instructed the committee to propose six core action plans by September and consolidate them into a national-level plan for Executive Yuan approval by the end of the year, with an official launch scheduled for next year. President Lai recently announced at the Presidential Office's National Climate Change Response Committee meeting that national greenery should be viewed as critical resilience infrastructure. The Executive Yuan established the committee with Cheng as the convener and heads of the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of the Interior, and Ministry of Agriculture as deputy conveners. A project office has been set up under the Climate Change Administration, featuring six working groups covering data management, planting, ecology, circular economy, public participation, and health. Cheng emphasized the significance of this cross-ministerial effort. She requested that all responsible departments submit their action plans by September, incorporating feedback from experts, NGOs, and local communities. Committee members, including Wu Sheng, suggested expanding the scope to include coastal and rural roads and establishing specific legislation. Cheng instructed the Ministry of Environment to incorporate these suggestions into the overall plan. Additionally, Cheng presided over the 53rd Central Disaster Prevention Meeting, directing the integration of AI into disaster management to enhance technological resilience.