Amid intensifying extreme weather events worldwide and growing demand for urban tree management, implementing scientific and professional practices for tree health maintenance, risk assessment, and safe pruning has become a key priority for urban environmental governance and sustainable development. With support from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA), Ministry of Agriculture, and other organizations, National Chiayi University (NCYU) has officially assumed responsibility for the Tree Protection Professional Training Program for Southern Taiwan. Drawing on its extensive expertise in agriculture and forestry and its practical teaching resources, NCYU has established a key training hub for tree protection professionals in southern Taiwan. Following restoration and improvements, the ecologically rich NCYU Botanic Garden has regained its former splendor and evolved into a professional training site that supports ecological conservation, outdoor hands-on training, mock practical certification exams, and tree risk assessment. This transformation not only enhances the practical value of the training but also lays a solid foundation for cultivating tree protection professionals and promoting sustainable urban and rural greening in southern Taiwan.
At 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 16, NCYU held an opening ceremony and plaque unveiling for the Tree Protection Professional Training Center (Southern Region) in front of the NCYU Botanic Garden on its Lantan campus. NCYU President Han-Chien Lin presided over the ceremony, which welcomed distinguished guests from FANCA and representatives from industry, government, and academia. The event marked the official establishment of the training center at NCYU, ushering in a new chapter in professional training and the revitalization of the NCYU Botanic Garden.
As a century-old university with a strong tradition of environmental stewardship, NCYU has long been deeply engaged in agricultural and forestry sciences, plant health, and natural resource management. To deliver the training program for tree protection professionals in southern Taiwan, NCYU has brought together expert faculty and teaching facilities from its Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Department of Plant Medicine. By integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines such as tree physiology, pest and disease control, habitat management, and risk assessment, NCYU has developed a professional training curriculum that balances theory with hands-on practice. The training covers core topics including tree health diagnostics, targeted pest and disease control, safe pruning techniques, tree risk assessment, soil and growing-site improvement, and root system care and management. The program offers 90 hours of professional training for intermediate-level personnel and 104 hours for advanced-level personnel. In addition to completing the required coursework and practical training, participants must take examinations in accordance with applicable regulations. Those who pass will receive certification at the corresponding professional level. The program aims to strengthen tree protection practitioners’ professional judgment, on-site skills, and risk management capabilities, equipping them to become qualified “tree protection professionals.”
NCYU President Han-Chien Lin emphasized that urban trees serve as a vital first line of defense against climate change, helping to cool cities and sequester carbon. Training qualified tree protection professionals is therefore directly linked to the ecological health of cities and public safety. The launch of the inaugural Tree Protection Professional Training Program for Southern Taiwan at NCYU not only reflects strong recognition of the university's academic excellence and teaching environment but also marks a significant milestone in its efforts to fulfill university social responsibility.
Wei Yu-Hsuan, Deputy Director of FANCA's Chiayi Branch, noted that the “Regulations Governing the Training, Examination, and Tiered Certification of Tree Protection Professionals” were promulgated and took effect on April 20, 2026. The regulations aim to enhance the professional skills of practitioners in forestry, horticulture and landscaping, plant pathology, and other tree protection-related fields in Taiwan. The Agency continues to actively assist government agencies at all levels, public facility management authorities, engineering agencies, and private organizations in maintaining the health of trees outside forests and preserving urban and rural green landscapes. These efforts are gradually establishing a system for the training, examination, and tiered certification of tree protection professionals.
NCYU will continue to collaborate with government agencies and relevant professional organizations to strengthen tree protection training, professional examinations, and technical exchanges, while promoting more scientific, systematic, and professional approaches to tree care and management. Through the establishment of the training center, NCYU seeks to translate its century-long legacy in agricultural and forestry education into concrete actions that address societal needs. By cultivating more tree protection professionals in southern Taiwan who possess specialized knowledge and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, NCYU aims to work with government agencies and all sectors of society to safeguard urban and rural green assets and create a safe, healthy, livable, and sustainable environment where people and trees can thrive together.
Photo 1: NCYU President Han-Chien Lin presides
over the opening ceremony of the Tree Protection Professional Training Center
(Southern Region).
Photo 2: Representatives from industry,
government, and academia pose for a group photo to mark the launch of the tree
protection professional training program in southern Taiwan at NCYU.