In July 2025, Typhoon Danas struck the Lantan campus of National Chiayi University (NCYU), where strong winds and heavy rain brought down approximately 4,240 trees. These old trees, which had been a familiar presence to faculty and students for years, lay fallen across the campus overnight, a saddening sight. Rather than letting the story of these fallen trees come to an end, NCYU adopted an innovative approach centered on “sourcing and reusing timber on campus.” By giving the old trees new life as tables and chairs for everyday use by faculty and students, the university turned the scars left by the typhoon into a warm and lasting campus memory.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Danas, the Lantan campus was left devastated, with numerous trees either uprooted or snapped in half, making cleanup a daunting task. Finding a suitable way to manage the vast number of fallen trees became a key issue in the university’s post-disaster recovery efforts. Conventionally, fallen trees would either be chipped and transported off campus or sent directly for incineration. Although these methods are quick, they generate substantial carbon emissions through transportation and incineration. Regrettably, incineration also releases years of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
After careful assessment, NCYU’s Office of General Affairs decided to take a different approach. Guided by the principles of campus sustainability and resource reuse, the Office of General Affairs adopted the approach of “sourcing and reusing timber on campus,” selecting usable trunks from fallen trees and transforming them into functional furniture. This effort significantly reduced the amount of waste wood requiring disposal and lowered carbon emissions from transportation and incineration. The resulting wood products also retained the trees’ stored carbon, supporting both post-disaster recovery and carbon reduction goals.
Mahogany and teak trees were among the hardest hit by the typhoon. Both types of wood are prized for their strength and beautiful grain. Teak, in particular, is renowned for its resistance to weathering and decay and has long been a preferred material for high-end furniture and construction. Recognizing the value of these woods, the university decided to give them “a second life.” Following the typhoon, the Office of General Affairs selected usable tree trunks from among the fallen trees and commissioned Fure Jang Enterprise Co., Ltd. to cut and process the timber. The final products included four wooden tables measuring 650 centimeters in length, eight measuring 410 centimeters, 18 solid-wood benches, and 35 solid-wood chairs. Each piece fully preserves the original wood’s growth rings and grain. These old trees, which might otherwise have been hauled away as waste, have now taken on new forms and continue to be part of the daily lives of faculty and students. Every growth ring tells the story of the years and storms these trees weathered on campus, while every grain pattern bears a unique, irreplaceable imprint of their lives.
These repurposed tables and chairs have been placed in various public spaces across the Lantan campus, including the lobbies of the Auditorium (Zuei-Suei Guan), the International Networking Academy, and the Administration Building, as well as the Office of the President, the lobbies of the Office of Research and Development and the Library and Information Building, and the entrance hall of the Multi-Purpose Instruction Building. Whether attending to administrative matters, reading, engaging in discussions, or simply taking a break, faculty and students can experience these tables and chairs crafted from the campus’s old trees up close. As they run their hands across the tabletops, lean back in the chairs, and take a closer look at the distinctive grain patterns and colors of each tabletop and chair, they can feel a connection to the trees that once grew on this campus and the memories they left behind. These tables and chairs have become vivid teaching tools, silently telling the story of the typhoon’s aftermath and allowing this experience to be seen and remembered.
NCYU President Han-Chien Lin noted that while it was heartbreaking to lose so many cherished campus trees to the typhoon, the experience also prompted the university community to rethink how people and trees can coexist. Through this experience, the university hopes to turn post-disaster recovery into an opportunity for education and practical action. Tree conservation goes beyond planting to encompass daily care, risk management, and post-disaster reuse. Every aspect is equally important. He hopes to raise awareness that safeguarding campus green resources begins with regular tree health management and preventive measures before disasters strike, and continues through smarter, more eco-friendly approaches that preserve the value of trees after disasters.
NCYU has long promoted campus sustainability, and repurposing these fallen trees puts that commitment into action. By reducing waste and carbon emissions, preserving the carbon stored in wood, and bringing the memories of campus trees into everyday life through tables and chairs, this initiative embodies the spirit of a circular economy and environmental education. Beyond their practical use, these tables and chairs serve as a reminder that even after trees fall, they can remain part of our lives in a different form. Looking ahead, NCYU will continue to monitor the health of campus trees, strengthen routine tree care and risk management, and explore new ways to repurpose fallen trees. As people and nature continue to coexist, the greenery and memories of this campus will live on for generations, remaining a cherished part of NCYU’s history.
Photo 1: Typhoon Danas toppled numerous trees
on the NCYU campus, leaving behind valuable timber resources.
Photo 2: Fallen campus trees have been
transformed into tables and chairs that blend natural beauty with
functionality.