Environmental Management Administration

2010 marked the 10th anniversary of the “Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act.” On Oct. 27, the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Fund Management Board invited representatives from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan to report and discuss soil and groundwater pollution. A resolution was passed to establish the “East and Southeast Asia Soil and Groundwater Remediation Task Force” to drive remediation efforts together. Taiwan serves as the chair (two-year terms); current vice-chairs are Thailand and Indonesia. Membership expanded from the initial eight countries to 12, adding Australia, New Zealand, India, and Sri Lanka.

The workshop ran from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, 2024, at National Cheng Kung University. The eight-day program included technical training, academic seminars, and site visits. Participants included eight professionals from ReSAG member states (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Australia) and 25 trainees from eight countries (Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal) invited via National Science and Technology Council programs, with attendance totaling 33 participants from 11 countries.

The workshop focused on “Sustainable Soil and Groundwater Environmental Protection and Resource Circulation.” Agenda items included soil and groundwater protection, polluted site investigation and remediation, resource circulation technology, and hazardous waste management. Participants were asked to share about their countries’ realities and needs, facilitating mutual exchange and learning. Instruction was provided by 20 domestic and international experts, including 12 from Taiwan’s academic sector. Online assessments showed significant post-training improvement in participant understanding of soil and groundwater pollution sources, pollutant categories, and remediation techniques.

The workshop facilitated technical exchange and cooperation between soil and groundwater professionals in the Asia-Pacific region. The administration will continue organizing such events to deepen Taiwan’s environmental protection influence in the region.