2026-05-25

In recent years, several incidents involving the collapse of large trees on school campuses in Taiwan have heightened public awareness of tree health management and campus safety. In response, the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) hosted a “Tree Health Assessment and Pest Management Environmental Education Workshop” on May 22, bringing together faculty, students, school landscape managers, environmental education professionals, and industry representatives to enhance knowledge of tree health management, pest and disease control, and sustainable campus stewardship.

Organized by NUK’s Office of General Affairs, the workshop was one of the featured programs within the university’s 2026 Sustainability Week series, “Remembering the Coral Tree, Welcoming the Cinnamomum.” The program included professional lectures, case studies, and field inspections covering topics such as tree health and public safety, root rot diseases, pest identification, disease prevention strategies, and campus tree assessment practices.

The opening session was chaired by Director-General of General Affairs Chen Yi-Kai, who emphasized that trees are more than landscape elements; they embody the history and collective memories of a campus community.

“Buildings may be demolished and rebuilt, but trees often remain standing, growing alongside the university and becoming part of its stories and history.”

He noted that without trees and historical memory, a campus loses part of its emotional and cultural foundation. For this reason, NUK has long prioritized tree maintenance and health management.

Chen further explained that while trees provide ecological benefits, shade, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration, inadequate management can also create public safety risks. He recalled a previous incident in which a Royal Poinciana tree on campus unexpectedly collapsed despite calm weather conditions. Combined with similar incidents at other educational institutions, such events have reinforced the importance of routine inspections, disease diagnosis, and risk management.

The workshop featured keynote speaker Fu Chun-Hsu, a researcher from the Forest Protection Division of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute.

NUK and Fu have collaborated for many years. As early as 2011, they jointly organized campus tree health assessment and pest management programs. Over the years, Fu has frequently provided expert support whenever the university encountered challenges related to tree diseases or maintenance, becoming a trusted advisor in safeguarding campus greenery.

During the morning session, environmental health and safety specialist Chen Yu-Ching shared NUK’s experiences in managing campus trees since the university’s founding. Her presentation covered topics such as:

• Mature tree transplantation
• Seedling cultivation and restoration
• Tree inventory and record systems
• Post-typhoon inspections
• Pest and disease management practices

She noted that NUK’s campus currently contains approximately 8,000 trees, requiring careful balancing of landscape aesthetics, biodiversity, spatial planning, maintenance feasibility, and public safety.

Chen also used the university’s historic coral tree as a case study. The tree gradually declined after years of infestation by the invasive erythrina gall wasp, ultimately leading to its removal. The Sustainability Week theme, “Remembering the Coral Tree, Welcoming the Cinnamomum,” was inspired by this experience and seeks to help students and faculty better understand the life cycle of campus trees and the complex responsibilities involved in tree management.

She emphasized that tree care is not simply a matter of pruning or removal; it also involves environmental education, risk assessment, and communication with the campus community.

In his lectures, Fu focused on the relationship between tree health and public safety, with particular attention to root rot diseases and prevention strategies. During the afternoon field session, he guided participants through practical methods for identifying tree diseases and pests.

Participants conducted on-site inspections across campus, examining tree trunks, root systems, and surrounding environmental conditions. Fu demonstrated how to recognize symptoms and risk factors associated with tree decline, including signs of Ganoderma root rot disease, one of the most serious threats to tree stability and safety.

Through direct observation and discussion, attendees learned how to translate classroom knowledge into practical skills for evaluating tree health and identifying potential hazards.

The workshop also attracted representatives from several universities, including National Cheng Kung University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Shih Chien University Kaohsiung Campus, and National Chin-Yi University of Technology, as well as professionals from horticultural and environmental sectors.

By fostering collaboration across institutions and disciplines, the workshop demonstrated that tree protection extends beyond routine campus maintenance and serves as an important component of sustainable campus development, environmental education, and public safety governance.

#SDG4 #SDG13 #SDG15 @Office of General Affairs & Teaching and Learning Programs