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Illegal farmhouses destroying Ilan

The Taipei-Ilan Freeway is up and running, ushering in a new and more prosperous era for Ilan County. County residents who had been eagerly awaiting the freeway's opening have been quick to take advantage of it; their presence can be felt in the elaborate farmhouses that have popped up all over the Lanyang Basin (蘭陽平原) in Ilan.

According to an Ilan County government survey, farmhouses in the area have increased by 300 per annum over the past five years. The number of people buying farmhouses for non-agricultural purposes began soaring in 2000 -- just after the Agricultural Development Act (農業發展條例) was amended. And although Ilan County residents still comprise the majority of the county's population, more and more people from Taipei and other areas are relocating to the county -- including Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘), President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) son-in-law. The rapid development in Ilan is having an impact on the county's picturesque rural landscape.

Ilan County Commissioner Lu Guo-hwa (呂國華) is reported to have been shocked by an aerial photograph of the county.

"How can there be so many farmhouses?" Lu reportedly said.

That incident revealed how even high-level county officials appear to be unaware of the full extent of farmhouse development in Ilan.

How can senior county politicians claim to be conservationists if they fail to address the development problem in a timely fashion? The answer is simple: Their procrastination, which has fueled the crisis, is the product of a political culture that encourages leaders to keep to themselves for fear of overstepping their authority.

Many of these farmhouses are illegal constructions that violate building codes and other regulations. Some are built on agricultural land that has not been reclassified for development, while others do not abide by the conditions specified in the construction license. An example of the latter is the building of an indoor garage instead of outdoor parking as required by law.

Other common violations include unauthorized annexes such as structures added to the top of the original building.

Additionally, farmhouses are not supposed to be surrounded by a wall, but one has yet to find a farmhouse in the county that isn't surrounded by a high wall. Although Ilan has a good track record in social order, many residents or guests can hardly envision sleeping in a rural villa at night without a wall. Not long ago, an Ilan contractor was kidnapped and held for ransom. With the new Taipei-Ilan Freeway facilitating a heavier flow of traffic into the county, such cases are likely to multiply.

Elected county officials are turning a blind eye to the problem of farmhouses in Ilan. That's because some of the owners are high-level officials or powerful individuals.

As the people see their leaders breaking the rules, many are wont to follow suit. How are law enforcers expected to deal with this problem in a fair and equitable manner? The public know that as long as the "high officials' villas" remain standing -- with all their illegal embellishments and structures -- so their illegal farmhouses won't come under the microscope. This is why farmhouses have sprouted up like weeds on the Lanyang Basin.

Famous for its natural beauty, Ilan's best business opportunity lies in the tourism industry. Many national and county roads are lined with farmhouses turned into rest areas or luxurious restaurants to attract tourists. The question is: Are these establishments licensed to operate? In the name of tourism, the county government has chosen to look the other way. But is government authority the only victim of such behavior?

The problems created by these individual farmhouses are manifold. They may be small but they require expensive public investment like electricity, water and road lighting. What's more, they create waste water that finds its way into agricultural fields. This is a public health issue, and we must not underestimate the problem of pollution in the Lanyang Basin.

Finding a solution to the farmhouse problem is not an easy task because it requires major legislative and administrative measures. A probable solution would be to create farmhouse clusters or villages, but that would still require government-led efforts.

Hopefully, construction will not destroy the Lanyang Basin or turn it into a paradise for real estate speculation since that would only widen the gap between the rich and the poor in the region. With the exception of a few landlords and yuppies, most people would not benefit from such a development. Spiraling real estate prices could also drive the younger generation out of the market.

The people of Ilan would do well to find a solution by looking to the Kavalan Aboriginal people. Although this group has been largely assimilated into Han culture, those still living on the Lanyang Basin have not forgotten the tolerance and generosity their ancestors accorded later arrivals, allowing them to settle on the land that they worked so hard on. How should today's Ilan residents repay them for the way they built Ilan? By building lots of magnificent farmhouses and villas locked up behind high walls?

In finding ways to let the people of Ilan lead a more dignified life, improvements to the quality of life are essential. Cultural innovation and the leisure industry are crucial to doing so and can decrease the consumption of non-renewable natural resources.

More important, relying on Ilan's natural beauty and resources to create development that does not focus on economic growth could make the phrase "Ilan experience" synonymous to "the new Taiwan experience."

Hualien County's success in promoting organic produce shows us that we have to build this experience ourselves. With the opening of the Hsuehshan Tunnel and direct traffic between Taipei and Ilan, it has become more urgent for the people of Ilan to find ways and means of development that are suitable to Ilan.

Selling agricultural land or building farmhouses is not the answer. We could all learn from the words of Chief Seattle: "How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land?" In the same spirit, I believe that the people of Ilan should live their own, Ilan, lives, and that the beauty of the Lanyang Basin belongs to all Taiwanese.

Chen Yung-song is an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science at Ilan University.

Translated by Max Hirsch and Perry Svensson
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