The National Property Administration (NPA) manages more than 20,000 hectares of national leased afforestation land. In support of the government’s 2050 Net-Zero Transition policy and to encourage lessees to actively participate in the development of natural carbon sinks on national land, the NPA established, on April 16, 2026, operational guidelines allowing lessees of national leased afforestation land to authorize companies to apply for voluntary greenhouse gas reduction projects (hereinafter referred to as “voluntary reduction projects”) on their behalf. By integrating corporate resources, the initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness of natural carbon sinks on national land through public-private collaboration.

        The NPA stated that, pursuant to Article 25 of the Climate Change Response Act, applications for voluntary reduction projects shall be submitted independently or jointly by enterprises or government agencies at various levels. Applicants are required to provide documentation proving land eligibility and their status as land rights holders. As most lessees of national leased afforestation land are natural persons and are therefore unable to apply directly, the following procedures (as illustrated in the attachment) apply when lessees authorize companies to apply for voluntary reduction projects on their behalf:

        a. Application Submission:

        Lessees of national leased afforestation land intending to authorize a company to apply for a voluntary reduction project on their behalf may submit an application to the leasing authority (the NPA’s branchs or their offices). Upon confirmation that no breach of contract exists, the leasing authority may issue an official letter of consent.

        b. Application for Voluntary Reduction Project Registration with the Letter of Consent:

        After obtaining the official letter of consent from the leasing authority, the authorized company may apply to the central competent authority (the Ministry of Environment) for registration of the voluntary reduction project. The project plan shall specify that 10% of the certified reduction credits obtained from the project shall be allocated to the NPA.

        c. Notification of Review Results to the Leasing Authority:

        Upon completion of the Ministry of Environment’s review of the voluntary reduction project, the lessee shall notify the leasing authority of the approval or rejection results. If the project is approved for registration, copies of the approval letter and project plan shall also be submitted to the leasing authority.

        The NPA further explained that the official letter of consent issued by the leasing authority shall remain valid for two years. Lessees should ensure that the authorized company applies to the Ministry of Environment for project registration within the validity period; otherwise, a new application must be submitted upon expiration. For further information, the public may visit the NPA website under “Citizen Services > FAQ > FAQ on Applications for the Use of National Property > FAQ on Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reduction Projects for National Leased Afforestation Land,” or contact the NPA’s branchs or their offices where the land is located.

Press Release Contact: Chen Chun-Hua, Section Chief

Contact number: +886-27718121 ext. 1221