2026/06/06
Protecting the Habitat of the Asian Box Turtle through Community Collaboration — FITI Supports Biodiversity Conservation
On the hillsides surrounding Mingde Reservoir, a community effort is underway — restoring habitat and rebuilding a future for the Asian box turtle, a protected species facing steady population decline in Taiwan. In recognition of World Environment Day, FITI Group rallied 40 employees and their family members on June 6 to visit Mingde Community, joining an ecological conservation and community engagement initiative to deepen their understanding of biodiversity and local sustainable development.
In recent years, Mingde Community has brought together residents, volunteers, and partner organizations to restore and protect the Asian box turtle's habitat. Due to habitat degradation and illegal poaching, the population has been steadily declining, making it one of Taiwan's key conservation priorities. Through collective effort, the community has developed a wildlife-friendly environment that now serves as an important demonstration site integrating ecological conservation, environmental education, and community participation.
During the visit, participants explored the ecological landscape surrounding Mingde Reservoir, learning about local species including the Asian box turtle and native flora such as Lespedeza formosa. Guided by local environmental educators, they gained a deeper appreciation of biodiversity's role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
In addition to ecological fieldwork, community partners shared environmental education initiatives including rainwater harvesting and organic fertilizer production. Participants also experienced local culinary traditions — a signature meal featuring freshwater fish from Mingde Reservoir and seasonal vegetables, alongside traditional Hakka beverages — fermented citrus tea and lei-cha (ground tea) — gaining a holistic sense of the region's environmental, cultural, and economic character.
For FITI Group, sustainability means more than operational targets — it means showing up. This initiative reflects the Group's commitment to biodiversity conservation and community partnership, bringing employees face to face with the land they're pledging to protect — a connection the Group hopes to deepen with every future engagement.
