Former CEO sets sights on greening Taiwan

2015-02-25

A 59-year-old former transportation company CEO from Taichung City is working to reforest Taiwan, planting 300,000 indigenous trees over the past 30 years en route to a lifelong goal of 500,000.

Lai Bei-yuan, aka the tree king, has spent more than NT$2 billion (US$63.6 million) on the pet project and plans to keep his shoulder to the grindstone until the task is completed.

“This is my legacy to the world,” Lai said Feb. 10 at the launch of his autobiography in Taipei City. “Many entrepreneurs leave wealth behind for their offspring, but this is not the case for me. My gift will be a great expanse of nature for the people of Taiwan.”

Lai got into the tree game 29 years ago after relinquishing the family business to his wife. He has since acquired 10 plots in Taichung City’s Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, turning over 200 hectares into mountainous tree havens.

According to Lai, the once deforested land he filled with trees will not become exclusive property of his family, which owns one of the largest freight transport companies in central Taiwan.

“When I first started, I made it a mission to preserve Taiwan’s endemic trees in their natural habitat,” he said, adding that his portfolio comprises such native species as beech, black pine, deodar cedar, ground hemlock, stout camphor, Taiwan hinoki and red false cypresses, Taiwan incense cedar and Taiwan short-leaf pine.

Lai’s achievements over the years have turned him into a high-profile figure in Taiwan’s forestation movement. He was the face of the Council of Agriculture’s annual tree planting initiative and received a special commendation from President Ma Ying-jeou.

But more importantly, his sons have embraced their fathers’ mission and are committed to continuing his selfless work long after he has gone.

“Witnessing the mountains regain greenery and vitality really drove home my father’s point,” eldest son Lai Chien-chung said. “With forests returning to the mountains, life follows. Now we can see crested serpent eagles soar in the sky and wagtails alight on branches.

“And the millions of fireflies lighting up the woods at night are a surefire sign that what my father does is right. I vow to keep his torch burning and pass it on to future generations.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=227659&CtNode=413)