Find ecological balance through tree burials

Since time immemorial, Taiwanese people have adhered strictly to traditional concepts regarding funeral etiquette and spared no effect in creating elaborate tombs for the dead. However, with a severe shortage of available land and a rise in environmental awareness, the concept of green funerals has gradually gained traction in recent years. In order to promote environmental protection and the management concept of ecological sustainability, Taichung City Government has been promoting tree burials as a way to give citizens an alternative to the traditional funeral.

The concept of sustainable tree burial sites hopes to transform traditional methods of commemorating the dead, like burial mounds, upright memorial stones, and the sacrificial offerings of flags, burning incense and ghost money. Instead, these green funerals hope to commemorate the deceased in the heart so as not to occupy valuable land resources, allowing the dead to truly return to nature, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

以下為中文對照

受早期逝者為大、入土為安的傳統觀念影響，台灣民眾通常會依據習俗，隆喪厚葬。但受土地資源不足加上環保意識抬頭，近年來興起的綠色殯葬觀念逐漸被更多民眾所接受。台中市政府為了倡導環境愛護及生態平衡永續經營理念，推動樹葬植存，提供市民另類的殯葬設施。

樹葬區採循環利用方式，希望民眾改變傳統立碑、設置標幟以及焚燒或放置香燭紙錢等祭品的祭拜形式，將對亡者感懷之情存於心中，以不佔用土地資源、助於環境綠化的殯葬，讓亡者能塵歸塵，土歸土，真正回歸自然。

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