Tree burial space running out in Kaohsiung amid widespread green idea

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/04/04
By: Wang Shwu-fen and Elizabeth Hsu

Kaohsiung, April 4 (CNA) The concept of returning to nature after death is becoming widespread in Taiwan, with an increase of eco-friendly burials nationwide.

However, the trend has driven the southern port city of Kaohsiung to the verge of running out of space designated for “tree burials.”

With an annual growth of up to 60 percent in the number of such burials, the city’s two existing cemeteries with natural burial sections — located in Qishan District and Yanchao District — are running out of space for tree burials, Hsieh Ting-sung (謝汀嵩), head of the Mortuary Services Office of Kaohsiung City, said Wednesday.

The total 1,400 burrows dug next to trees at the cemeteries for the burial of ashes, will soon be unable to be renewed in time for cyclic utilization, Hsieh said.    [FULL  STORY]