To celebrate Earth Day, Taipei Tech Department of Architecture collaborated with the Forestry Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture to establish Taiwan's first on-campus fern experimental field, named "Ferns of Taipei Tech." Headed by architecture professor Huang Chih-hung, this project aims to create a gene bank of native Taiwanese ferns by utilizing systematic ecological planning concepts, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals（SDGs）. The goal is to enhance biodiversity on campus and set a new example for urban landscape planning. Many rare and endangered fern species have been donated to Taipei Tech and taken root on the campus.

Chen Chen-cheng, chair of Taipei Tech Department of Architecture, stated that the development of Taipei Tech's ecological campus began around 1980 and has always deen driven by the initial goal-environmental sustainability. Taipei Tech's natural landscape was spearheaded by Tsai Jen-hui, then Dean of the College of Design, 15 years ago. Over the years, with the removal of campus walls, restoration of waterway systems, and building the Green Gate, Taipei Tech has demonstrated the possibility of bringing back biodiversity in a highly urbanized area and led a new campus planning trend in Taiwan.

The new fern experimental field serves both as landscaping and as an important source for architecture and urban planning experiments. With guidance from fern experts, this initiative will allow exploration of practical applications of native Taiwanese ferns in building and landscape designs, further realizing biodiversity and systematic ecology in urban landscape planning. The architecture department also plans to apply this concept in indigenous natural landscapes of the Meixi area in Nantou, the homeland of butterflies, through Taipei Tech's USR project.

Huang Yao-mou, a distinguished researcher at the Forestry Research Institute, pointed out that Taiwan, which spans from tropical to subtropical regions, is rich in ferns, even in Taipei city. On the Taipei Tech campus, there are currently 24 families and 62 species, including 18 species from the Forestry Research Institute, seven species from the eastern tribe of Nantou's Ren'ai Township, and one specie from the Tengyun community in Taipei's Wanhua District. Exciuding two horticultural species, the remaining 60 species are native to Taiwan. Ferns enhanve urban biodiversity, improve living conditions, and help restore urban ecological landscapes. The strong support from the architecture faculty and students has allowed vibrant fern plants to take root at Taipei Tech, opening door to the many possibilities of integrating ferns in urban architectural and environment design.

Chinese Resource：https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/4649394

Taipei Tech Post Issue 64：https://www-en.ntut.edu.tw/p/404-1006-139066.php?Lang=en