Alpha Networks Joins Forces with FANCA, Conservation Group and Local Community to Restore Budai Salt Pans as Bird-Friendly Wetland Habitat
In response to global biodiversity initiatives and Taiwan’s natural carbon sink policy, networking leader Alpha Networks Inc. (TWSE: 3380) has entered into a close partnership with the Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA), the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society and the Xincen Community of Budai Township, Chiayi County. Together, they have launched the “Budai Salt Pan Wetland Revitalization” conservation project to create a more suitable habitat for migratory birds to rest and forage while providing a birdwatching-friendly environment for visitors. The initiative will help transform the former “white gold” production site into a model area for biodiversity.
Four-Party Collaboration Restores a Vital Stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway
The Budai Salt Pans form an important wetland along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and have long provided habitat for black-faced spoonbills, shorebirds and other migratory species. According to data provided by the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society, annual bird surveys at the Budai Salt Pans have historically recorded approximately 25,000 to 40,000 bird sightings. The area’s rich birdlife also attracts many birdwatchers.
However, as the salt industry has evolved, the wetlands continue to face challenges including invasive species, excessive soil salinity and habitat management. Balancing the habitat needs of waterbirds with public birdwatching activities has therefore become a key consideration in improving the wetland environment.
Alpha Networks Chairman Liang-Shang Lee said, “The Budai Salt Pans were once an important center of Taiwan’s salt industry and have since been transformed into a haven for waterbirds. By joining forces with government agencies, conservation groups and local residents, Alpha Networks will support invasive-species removal, nature-trail restoration, soil improvement, native planting and community-based maintenance. Through these efforts, we aim to gradually restore the ecological functions of the salt pan wetlands, extend our positive social impact and ensure that Budai remains a vital stopover for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.”
The Chiayi Branch of FANCA stated, “Conservation cannot be achieved by government efforts alone; it requires participation from all sectors of society. We hope this collaboration will help more companies recognize the urgency of biodiversity conservation and take action to protect Taiwan’s natural environment. We welcome companies committed to biodiversity conservation to explore partnership opportunities through FANCA’s Carbon Sink and Biodiversity ESG Project Matching Platform (esg.forest.gov.tw) and join us in safeguarding Taiwan’s natural environment.”
Three Project Highlights: Circular Use of Resources, Soil Desalination and Community Prosperity
Proposed by Alpha Networks with support from FANCA’s Chiayi Branch and in collaboration with the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society and the Xincen Community, the conservation project aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and features three key approaches:
1. Nature-based reuse of removed biomass (resource circularity): Volunteers and professional teams will remove the highly invasive white leadtree (Leucaena leucocephala). After the branches are trimmed, the removed trunks will be repurposed to repair damaged wooden footbridges. This nature-based approach replaces rigid concrete paving, reduces the use of construction materials and associated carbon emissions, and promotes resource circularity.
2. An innovative soil-leaching method and green buffer (ecological resilience): Soil excavated from drainage channels will be exposed to the sun, while embankments will be shaped to create rainwater retention ponds. Rainfall during the wet season will then leach excess salt from the soil. Salt- and wind-tolerant native trees will subsequently be planted to form a sheltered, linear ecological buffer, reducing disturbance to waterbirds from birdwatching activities.
3. Community participation and green jobs (local co-prosperity): The project will engage the local Xincen Community in watering and maintaining the green buffer. This collaboration will stimulate the local economy, strengthen residents’ commitment to wetland conservation and enhance local ecological resilience.
Ongoing Waterbird Monitoring Provides Data to Guide Habitat Improvement
In addition to habitat enhancement, the conservation project emphasizes long-term ecological monitoring. The Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society will conduct bird surveys and continue building a body of ecological data following habitat improvements. The findings will show how waterbirds use the restored environment and provide a basis for subsequent adaptive management.
The Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society noted that winter migratory bird numbers rose significantly after previous habitat improvements at the Budai Salt Pans, with nearly 10,000 gull and duck sightings recorded. With the commitment of Alpha Networks and FANCA’s Chiayi Branch, the Society believes that the Budai wetlands will provide even higher-quality habitat and establish a new benchmark for wetland conservation and corporate ESG collaboration in Taiwan.
Alpha Networks, Government, Conservation Experts and Community Join Forces to Protect the Wetlands
Alpha Networks emphasized that biodiversity conservation cannot be accomplished by any single company or organization; it requires the collective participation of government, businesses, conservation groups and local communities.
Through a collaborative model in which government provides the site, conservation groups contribute expertise, businesses invest resources and the community participates in ongoing stewardship, Alpha Networks is helping restore the Budai Salt Pan wetlands. This approach turns a one-time environmental improvement into sustained local action. It not only deepens residents’ commitment to wetland conservation but also creates local green employment opportunities, advancing both environmental protection and community co-prosperity.
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《Alpha Networks Inc.》
Alpha Networks Inc. was founded in 2003 and is one of the largest professional network equipment manufacturers in Taiwan. With years of experience in product development and design, Alpha Networks has been a major provider of network product design, R&D, and manufacturing for renowned global brands. The Company’s product lines cover Local and Metropolitan Area Networks (LAN/MAN), wireless broadband networks, digital multimedia, and enterprise mobile solutions. Alpha Networks Inc. is headquartered in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan, and the Company owns 3 major R&D centers worldwide, as well as subsidiaries in North America, Japan, China, and Vietnam. For more information on Alpha Networks Inc., please refer to the company’s website (www.alphanetworks.com).
《News Contact》
Claire Chen
Tel: +886-3-563-6666 ext. 6562
E-mail: Claire_Chen@alphanetworks.com