The development of government-granted forest care initiatives in Taiwan–Establishment of a new business model and its sustainability

Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) are increasingly recognized for their vital contributions to human well-being, fostering a global shift toward integrating forest-based health interventions into public health frameworks. Forest Care Initiatives (FCIs), as one of the typical initiatives, include Forest Therapy (FT) and rehabilitation, health promotion and collaborative activities. However, the operational dynamics, business models, and long-term sustainability within the emerging paradigm of FCIs remain underexplored. This study investigates the development of government-granted FCIs in Taiwan to address the research gap. Utilizing a typology analysis of Taiwanese FCIs and a Business Model Canvas (BMC) assessment of three representative FCIs, this research examines their structural configurations and operational limitations. The results reveal a significant polarization in the development of representative Taiwanese FCIs between pursuing market-oriented resource autonomy and remaining heavily reliant on project-based government subsidies, which leads to financially vulnerable. These findings highlight that the emerging FCIs face systemic challenges, and identify the institutional barriers that impede their transition toward sustainable socio-economic enterprises. By illustrating the tension between grant-dependency and market viability of FCIs in Taiwan, this study offers a critical governance blueprint for policymakers seeking to integrate forest-based health interventions into broader healthcare and social welfare systems.