Fab 15B is the first model fab of TSMC’s successful development of close-to-nature forest, and it restores the original sound ecological function of the land.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Creates the First Close-to-nature Forest and Successfully Restores Nine Kinds of Rare Plants

Enabling Co-prosperity between Technology and Environment; Fab 15B Works with Universities to Restore the Original Ecology of the Environment
Pei-Ching Hu
Yu-An Chen
Tasi-Yi Chang

TSMC’s Fab 15B is located next to Taichung Metropolitan Park, which is full of abundant ecological resources. In order to ensure the sustainable utilization of ecological systems as well as maintain biological diversity, Fab 15B began working with the Department of Forestry of National Chung Hsing University in Taichung when the plant started construction for the promotion of and of rare species. As of March 2020, Fab 15B has restored 204 kinds of plants in the close-to-nature forest. The ratio of native species is 78.4% and it contains of rare plants, including Avicennia Pricklyash which is rated as vulnerable species (VU) by the Council of Agriculture with total amount in the country being less than 1,000 strains.

Fab 15B close-to-nature forest development program

Location
  • Slope at east bank of TSMC’s Fab 15B.
  • Surface area covers 8,500 square meters.
Program Starting Time June, 2017
Status Before Forestation
  • Forest physiognomy deterioration: Original forest physiognomy had deteriorated to savanna and grass-covered land due to frequent fires caused by arid climate, infertile soil, and competition of invasive species of weeds.
  • Difficulty in obtaining native species: The difficulty in obtaining local native nursery stock made restoration more difficult.
Purpose of Forestation Through active artificial ecological restoration methods, the close-to-nature forest was restored to its original forest physiognomy appearance in the Dadu Plateau.
Forestation Method

Development History and Performance

The close-to-nature program began with the restoration of Taiwan native species and gradually developed the rare plant restoration, and it demonstrates TSMC’s determination in creating sustainable ecological environments. Seeing the originally sparsely-vegetated land turn into the vibrant thick forest now, it shows the vision of co-prosperity between technology and ecology in practice.

- Pei-Ching Hu, TSMC Ecological Management Team

The development of close-to-nature forest at TSMC’s Taichung plant is a very rare ecological restoration case at low altitude in Taiwan. It is completely based on the principle of planting according to the environment while considering local environmental characteristics and selection of suitable species. Currently, the initial development of close-to-nature forestry has been completed. In the future, continuous supervision must carry on to adjust species combination and ecological system structure according to the supervision in order to achieve the long-term goal of beautiful forest physiognomy with abundant species and natural renewal.

- Ching-An Chiu, Associate Professor of National Chung Hsing University Department of Forestry

TSMC fulfills is commitment to a sustainable environment by restoring the original sound ecological function of the land by enhancing biological diversity through the creation of close-to-nature forests, replacing the past practice of small-scale landscaping for environmental afforestation. Fab 15B is the first demonstration plant of TSMC’s successful development of close-to-nature forest, and it will be used as the restoration base for rare plants in Dadu Mountain to link surrounding green belts step by step. Through the continuous increase of Taiwan native species and the species diversity enhancement program, the existing scope of close-to-nature forest and biosphere is extended and further drives the return of natural ecosystems.