▲As part of its sustainability tour, Everlight Chemical Plant I gathered participants to clean up litter along the Xucuogang Wetland Trail.
Everlight Chemical regards “environmental protection” as a top business priority and has long demonstrated its commitment through concrete actions. As a responsible global citizen, the Company actively participates in initiatives to protect the planet.
All four of Everlight Chemical’s plants are located near coastal areas. Plant I is adjacent to the Xucuogang Wetlands, Plant II and III are close to the Caota Sand Dunes, and Plant IV is near the Guanshi Algal Reefs — all nationally designated ecological conservation areas, with several rivers such as the Dahukou River flowing nearby. Upholding the belief that “wherever people go, blessings should follow,” each plant has repeatedly organized sustainability tours, encouraging employees to learn about their local environments while taking part in beach cleanups, river protection, litter collection, and other ecological preservation activities, continuously contributing to the safeguarding of nature.
Ecological Tour: Birdwatching and Bird Conservation in Action
Last year, Everlight Chemical Plant I had the opportunity to connect with the Taoyuan Wild Bird Society while organizing a company sustainability tour. Plant Manager Mr. Kun-Mu Chen shared that volunteers from the society provided valuable insights, such as avoiding beach cleanups during migratory bird breeding seasons to prevent stepping on eggs or disturbing habitats, deepening employees’ awareness of bird conservation practices.
On April 19, Everlight Chemical Plant I organized an ecological tour titled “Birdwatching at Daan Forest Park and Clean-up at Xucuogang”, inviting over 30 employees and their families to join. The tour was led by Plant Manager Mr. Kun-Mu Chen and Mr. Yi-Jen Liu, Chairman of the Taoyuan Wild Bird Society. Colleagues and their loved ones participated with joy and excitement.
The group first visited Daan Forest Park, known as the “Lungs of Bade City”, a revitalized military base now home to over 3,000 trees and a rich variety of local wildlife. In addition to its original flora and fauna, the park has successfully restored hundreds of rare plant species and native ecological resources. A newly completed nature and ecological education center, opened in January this year, is jointly maintained by four nonprofit organizations, including the Taoyuan Wild Bird Society. Everlight Chemical proudly supported this initiative, contributing to bird conservation education efforts.
Through the Lens: Bringing Birds Up Close
Mr. Yi-Jen Liu, a passionate volunteer dedicated to bird conservation for nearly half a century, enthusiastically explained, “There are 84 recorded bird species here, including protected species such as the Black-naped Oriole and the Common Kingfisher.” His engaging storytelling, accompanied by lively birdcall imitations, captivated everyone. Together with volunteer guide Mr. Chi-Jung Kuo, they guided participants in spotting doves, kingfishers, Malayan night herons, and magpies through binoculars, bringing the hidden birds into clear view. Heartwarming scenes unfolded as parents held children up to the lenses and couples shared moments of awe and wonder. Although the group hoped to catch a glimpse of the protected star species—the Black-naped Oriole—it remained elusive during the brief visit.
At one point, Mr. Liu playfully asked, “Do you know how to say ‘magpie’ in Taiwanese?” as he pointed to a large nest perched atop an old power tower, where magpies flew in and out against a bright blue sky. Down on the green meadows, the native Chinese ground orchid (commonly known as “Qingming grass”) greeted visitors with delicate, smiling blooms, adding to the charm of this meaningful nature outing.
▲Everlight Chemical employees focused their binoculars to get a closer look at a Malayan night heron resting high in the trees.
A Green Tunnel Filled with All Kinds of Litter
As the group continued their walk, they arrived at the lunch spot, where Facility Department Manager Mr. Cong-Xian Su, along with colleagues Ming-Rou Yu and Yong-Qiang Jiang, had thoughtfully prepared eco-friendly metal lunch boxes — both delicious and sustainable. After a short break, it was time for the highlight of the day: the Xucuogang clean-up. Everyone geared up with reflective vests, gloves, trash pickers, and garbage bags before splitting into teams to collect and record the types of litter found along the way. On the trail toward the birdwatching pavilion, discarded PET bottles, glass bottles, drink cartons, plastic bags, cigarette butts, and even entire trash bags were scattered everywhere. The participants swiftly gathered litter, quickly filling more than a dozen bags.
Along a roughly one-kilometer route, a total of 64 kilograms of trash was collected. The most common items were 146 PET bottles, followed by 126 glass bottles and 106 cigarette butts. Mr. Quan-Pei Liu, Secretary-General of the Taoyuan Wild Bird Society, who led the clean-up, noted that Plant Manager Mr. Kun-Mu Chen consistently sought out the heaviest pieces of trash, often venturing into the forest to retrieve glass bottles and entire discarded bags of waste. Mr. Liu praised him as a role model for the entire team.
Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Kun-Mu Chen remarked that while he had previously walked this trail and admired it as a beautiful “green tunnel,” it wasn’t until this clean-up that he realized just how much litter — from PET bottles and straws to drink cans — was hidden among the trees, quite different from the types of debris typically collected during Everlight Chemical’s annual beach clean-ups. “There’s more trash here than we imagined,” he noted earnestly, calling on everyone to raise their environmental awareness and work together to protect the natural environment.
▲Everlight Chemical employees spent their weekend cleaning up litter at Xucuogang.
▲Employees from Everlight Chemical Plant I teamed up with their families to pick up trash and actively support environmental protection.
A Wetland by the Plant, a Resting Place for Rare and Endangered Birds
After completing the clean-up, the group resumed their birdwatching tour. Covering nearly 1,000 hectares, the Xucuogang Wetlands feature diverse habitats, including intertidal zones, sand dunes, and windbreak forests — an ideal environment for birds to rest, nest, and breed. From autumn and winter through early summer each year, thousands of migratory birds flock to the area, including the critically endangered Black-faced Spoonbill (a Grade 1 protected species) and other rare species such as the Chinese Egret and Little Tern (both Grade 2 protected species). This rich ecological sanctuary has become a paradise for birdlife.
Following a narrow path along the creek, guided by Chairman Mr. Yi-Jen Liu and volunteer educator Mr. Chi-Jung Kuo, the group spotted flocks of Cattle Egrets—locally known as “niu bei lu”—gracefully perched across the wetlands. Mr. Kuo recalled witnessing an extraordinary scene here once: an entire mountain alive with egrets rising together like a white wave, an awe-inspiring sight.
As the group continued walking and observing, various species made their appearance one after another — including Spotted Doves, Plain Prinias, Fan-tailed Warblers, Great Egrets, and Little Grebes — offering a visual feast for nature lovers.
One special highlight was the mention of the Little Tern, which returns north from Australia every April and is the only species of tern to breed in Taiwan. Xucuogang Wetlands has a designated conservation area for this species. However, in recent years, an invasion of red imported fire ants has forced these birds to temporarily relocate to Zhuwei Fishing Harbor. It is hoped that ongoing control efforts will successfully curb the ant population and restore a safe nesting habitat for the Little Tern in the near future.
▲The guide led participants in spotting migratory birds at Xucuogang Wetlands through binoculars.
Cherishing Ecology, Committed to Protecting the Natural Environment
“Birdwatching is not just about observing birds, but also about respecting their habitats and appreciating the ecology in a sustainable way.” Everlight Chemical Plant I, located near the Xucuogang Wetlands, has long been dedicated to protecting the natural environment through concrete actions such as beach clean-ups and litter collection, ensuring the Earth continues to thrive.
Written by |Yuming Zeng, General Manager’s Office
