TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's rural Yunlin County has captured global recognition for environmental restoration excellence, county officials announced Tuesday (June 24). The Yunlin County Government (雲林縣政府), a local administrative body in central-western Taiwan, revealed that its ambitious Yunlin River (雲林溪) landscape transformation project has earned the prestigious gold medal in the Public Infrastructure and Amenities category at the 2025 FIABCI World Prix d'Excellence Awards. The international accolade represents a significant validation of Taiwan's growing expertise in urban waterway rehabilitation and sustainable landscape design, positioning the island nation among global leaders in environmental revitalization.
County representatives detailed how decades of unchecked urbanization had effectively buried much of the natural waterway system in Douliu City (斗六市), the administrative center of Yunlin County, beneath concrete and development. This environmental neglect had triggered a cascade of problems, including severe ecological damage and declining water quality throughout the region's watershed. The restoration initiative gained momentum in 2015 when local authorities held a community referendum on future urban development priorities. Residents overwhelmingly endorsed the comprehensive river rehabilitation proposal, providing officials with a clear public mandate to undertake the ambitious environmental recovery project.
The award-winning initiative represents the culmination of a multi-year restoration effort conceptualized under the guiding principle "Revitalize Douliu's Lifeline River" (再造斗六生命之河). Project designers structured the rehabilitation around four complementary pillars: creating accessible waterfront spaces that promote "Water-friendly Coexistence," developing a more "Livable City" environment, establishing a "Cultural Corridor" that honors local heritage, and ensuring long-term 'Ecological Sustainability.' The 2.8-kilometer waterway renovation incorporates sophisticated landscape design, reconstructed wildlife habitats, modernized flood management systems, enhanced public safety elements, preserved cultural landmarks, and tourism infrastructure. These components collectively form a 5.2-kilometer circular recreational pathway that interconnects 15 distinct neighborhood centers.
Environmental engineers incorporated numerous sustainable features throughout the project, including strategically placed ecological islands for wildlife habitat, gentle low-profile weirs to manage water flow, porous embankment structures that allow natural filtration, permeable ground surfaces to reduce runoff, comprehensive rainwater collection systems, and drought-resistant vegetation requiring minimal maintenance. The installation of energy-efficient LED illumination alongside ground-level rail lighting transforms the corridor into a safely navigable and visually striking nighttime destination. County administrators have outlined plans to extend the revitalization effort with complementary initiatives focused on adaptive reuse of historic structures and enhancement of adjacent parklands, further expanding the network of livable waterfront spaces.
Representatives from the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Taiwan Chapter (世界不動產聯盟台灣分會), the local branch of the global property development organization, reported that the prestigious awards ceremony took place on June 12 in Nigeria. The event highlighted Taiwan's emerging prominence in world-class infrastructure development, with the island nation securing an impressive collection of five medals — two gold and three silver — across various categories in the highly competitive international real estate and construction competition. The strong showing places Taiwan among the elite ranks of countries demonstrating excellence in innovative urban planning and sustainable development practices. ◼
