On World Environment Day 2020, the Taiwanese government and Quiet Parks International awarded Yangmingshan National Park the world’s first Urban Quiet Park

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, areas of quiet have reemerged in cities worldwide. While most of this quiet may ultimately be temporary, quiet conservation is critically important for human health and wildlife conservation, particularly in urban areas where most of the world’s population now lives.

Yangmingshan National Park is located at 25°11'40.1"N 121°33'39.3"E to the north of Taipei Basin, close to the Greater Taipei area, with a total population of nearly seven million people. Since 2011, Yangmingshan National Park has more than four million visitors per year.

Laila Fan, Taiwan’s leading environmental journalist and founder of Soundscape Association of Taiwan, spearheaded this unprecedented milestone. She explains the benefits of the park’s special designation in the following way: “With lush forests, ice cold spring, and natural sounds of birds and insects by the trail, Yangmingshan is a wonderland that can help cleanse our body, clear our mind, and claim our spirit...The world is facing the epidemic crisis this year. We need to pay attention to our physical and mental health, learn to listen to Mother Nature.”

Future Urban Quiet Parks are planned for Stockholm, New York, London, Portland and elsewhere. As many as 50 more Urban Quiet Parks may follow Yangmingshan over the next ten years according to Gordon Hempton, Co-Founder of Quiet Parks International, a non-profit charitable organization based out of Los Angeles.

Quotes

Quiet is making everything more clear.
Laila Fan, Founder Soundscape Association of Taiwan, Taiwan Representative, QPI

Every individual should have access to a place in nature that is dedicated to silence in the external sense and stillness in the inner sense. Cities around the world should identify, protect and make accessible places in nature that are dedicated to silence in the outer sense and stillness in the inner sense. Yangmingshan National Park leads the way by being the first Urban Park in the world awarded for quiet.
Ulf Bohman, Executive Director Urban Quiet Parks, QPI

Now more than ever, we all need access to quiet places. Taiwan’s leadership on protecting this important resource is inspirational, and I cannot wait to return to Yangmingshan and experience the quiet again.
Matt Mikkelsen, Executive Director Wilderness Quiet Parks, QPI

Yangmingshan National Park and Taiwan have accomplished what no other country could - Established the world’s first awarded Urban Quiet Park. Today Taiwan’s voice, her quiet and her peace is heard across the planet. And the message is loud and clear: We need more quiet places - especially in an urban environment - for the benefit of all life. May you find the Quiet Park within.
Vikram Chauhan, President and Co-Founder, QPI

Press Contact

  • Ms. Wei-Jye Sun, Director, Yangmingshan National Park

  • Shih Cheng-Kai, Contact person, Yangmingshan National Park: c108@ymsnp.gov.tw

  • Laila Fan, Taiwan Representative, Quiet Parks International: lailafantw@gmail.com

  • Ulf Bohman, Executive Director of Urban Quiet Parks, Quiet Parks International: ulf@quietparks.org

  • Vikram Chauhan, President, Quiet Parks International: vikram@quietparks.org

  • Gordon Hempton, Secretary, Quiet Parks International: gordon@quietparks.org