The Earth that we live in has experienced industrial revolution and rapid development. The fast-growing economy has fulfilled people’s needs and desires. However, the rapid development has caused significant impact on the planet. In recent years we have had a series of natural disasters and issues such as global warming, climate change, air pollution, and rising sea level, etc. As a result we have to start paying attention to the importance of ecosystems within the city. In order to develop an eco-city, we must be able to achieve energy conservation, carbon reduction, protect endangered species, and create a habitat for local species. It is through innovative methods, we can minimize the impact of the city on the environment and truly create a sustainable ecological city.

The primary task for an eco-city is to be able to maintain the biodiversity within the city, and people’s knowledge and awareness are important links in it. Through proposing initiatives and advocacy activities, SOW collaborates with government agencies to plan and promote community learning programs, starting from daily habits and familiar environments, leading local people to participate in environmental protection, energy conservation, and carbon reduction. In addition, through the effective use of natural resources, combined with ecology, education and childhood memories, we can excite and raise interest of more communities to participate in protecting biodiversity, moving toward the goal of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Every city in Taiwan has its own characteristics and unique geographical advantages with rich natural resources. The overall environment may be difficult to change, but if there is good urban planning at the city level, gradual improvement is possible. Therefore, we can take the concept of eco-city as the ultimate goal, and hope to demonstrate Taiwan’s gentle and strong civil community strength, gradually improving the living standard, and raise recognition through collaboration of local communities and corporations.

Parks account for most of the greenery in the city. SOW believes that metropolitan parks should not be just parks with granite trails, cement artificial facilities and full of landscape plants. With green planting and habitat improvement, the ecological quality can be increased, which will attract more species and provide sufficient shelter space to animals and insects. The parks can become ecological stations and green corridors in the city, which will increase the possibility of coexistence between humans and other species.

SOW has dedicated its effort in protecting metropolitan parks with rich ecosystems in Taipei. Since 2014, SOW has been promoting the eco-development of parks to protect the limited number of natural habitats in the city. SOW and the Taipei Wanhua Youth Park have worked together to lead local residents and environmentalists to remove alien species, foster native species, and cultivate an ecological environment. After years of hard work, rare sounds of streams and waters, as well as a variety of birds have appeared in the Youth Park, which has won the praise and recognition of many local residents.

SOW looks forward to creating a friendly habitat to other species in the park with the power of citizens. SOW has rebooted the metro-park experience with the activity of “Finding a home for Squirrels''. From the perspective of a squirrel, SOW explores and evaluates the ecological indicators of parks near our homes in five aspects: cementation within the park, plant management, biodiversity, human activity interference, and external environmental interference. What we can do is to use the little power we have to continuously participate and pay attention to such issues, hope that one day Taipei City will be able to restore its green and natural appearance and become an eco-city that provides the best environment-friendly living experience.