The Marine National Park Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior National Park Service commissioned director Shou-i Yang to lead a professional team in capturing the essence of the Southern Four Islands National Park across all seasons. After two years of filming, the documentary “Enduring space and time: the vitality of South Penghu Marine National Park” won the Gold Award in the Nature & Wildlife (Film &Video Prdns.) category at the 57th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. The documentary highlights the significance of basalt habitat conservation and showcases the beauty of Taiwan’s national park.
The National Park Service stated that the Marine Headquarters has used this basalt-themed documentary to promote environmental education. By June 2024, 30 environmental education sessions had been conducted in collaboration with 21 schools across Penghu County. Building on this momentum, four special screenings will be held in August in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, inviting students to join the ecological conservation movement and promoting Taiwan’s national parks internationally.
Marine Headquarters Collaborates with Schools to Promote Marine Education
The Marine Headquarters explained that over the years, they have promoted marine-themed courses through school outreach programs. This year, “Enduring space and time” serves as the focal point, with volunteer interpreters creatively designing environmental education classes. Using materials such as hexagonal weights, clay, paintbrushes, basalt, and coral stones, students engage in sensory experiences to recreate basalt habitats. The program has reached schools across Magong, Xiyu, Baisha, Huxi, Niaoyu, Hujing, Wang’an, and Qimei, receiving enthusiastic feedback from teachers, students, and parents.
During these activities, students incorporate daily observations into basalt landscape creations and actively discuss ways to introduce basalt formations to tourists while promoting eco-friendly practices. After the “Enduring space and time” screening and educational session at Hoheng Elementary School on May 28, the school independently organized a field trip one month later. Students and parents visited the South Penghu Marine National Park, gaining firsthand experience of basalt geology and the rich cultural stories of the park. The school expressed interest in participating in future beach cleanups and environmental protection initiatives, further enhancing their marine education programs.
Director of the National Park Service, Mao-Chun Chen, emphasized that national parks are the pride of Taiwan. He encouraged all national park management offices to continue advancing their efforts by collaborating with local governments, conservation organizations, educational institutions, private enterprises, and residents. By protecting unique natural environments and biodiversity, national parks serve as a cornerstone of Taiwan’s sustainable development, fostering collective determination to preserve the natural ecosystem.