For Taiwan, a country that is prone to droughts, floods and landslide disasters, and which is ranked as the 22nd largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions in the world, the approach of Arbor Day on April 27 should remind us of the particular importance of planting trees.
Research has shown that wooded areas can absorb water 2.6 times as well as open land, and that open land experiences 40 times more water erosion than forests. In addition, one hectare of forest absorbs about 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. These figures all demonstrate the positive influence trees have on checking erosion and the greenhouse effect. Therefore, the government should make planting trees and protecting forested areas a top priority.
Right now there are two areas where it is most urgent that we step up forestation efforts. The first is in places where natural disasters threaten people's lives and property, including areas affected by landslides and wildfires, on the sides of major roads, on uncovered land in protected areas around water sources and in areas damaged by plant diseases and pests. The second is in places of overuse, or where formerly forested areas have been used for other purposes. This is especially necessary for land that is supposed to be replanted, but is actually being used for agriculture. This conflict between forestry and government policy is at the crux of present reforestation efforts.
We shouldn't continue to use traditional industrialized forestation techniques in these areas. Instead, we should replace them with modern environmental technology and return to ecology as our foundation. We should replant the indigenous tree species or other kinds best suited to the area. We should emphasize having a variety of different species and ages, and match that with a plan for an aesthetically pleasing landscape. In this way, we will be able to construct a stable forest and a healthy ecology.
The current thinking in environmental protection is to encourage local participation, and opening up forestation work to members of the community has become the trend. Aboriginal people in particular have long had a forest culture and they should be brought into the reforestation process. In planting, weeding and other maintenance needed for a healthy forest, Aborigines should not be left out.
In addition to protecting state and publicly-owned forests by stepping up patrols to punish overdevelopment and illicit logging, we should also put particular emphasis on protecting old trees on campuses and in our communities. Hopefully, education and hands-on experience will stir Taiwanese affection and respect for trees and help foster a sense of environmental responsibility and ethical treatment of the land.
The manila tamarinds at the Taipei Mandarin Experimental Elementary School, the coral tree at Sungshan Elementary School and the yellow and purple Indian sandalwood at National Taiwan Normal University are cared about and loved by teachers and students alike.
The Ministry of Education's plan to promote "sustainable campuses" emphasizes "creating and protecting an ecological environment." The goal is that helping students to understand the ecology on their own campus will inspire them to care for the rest of the planet, and this is why protection of the old trees on campus is one of the goals of the plan.
Communities should actively work to protect old trees off-campus as well. The trees and greenery surrounding Taipei's Qingtian Street and Tongan Street are all the tangible results of local residents' efforts to protect the environment.
Of course, there is still much room to improve the funding and scheduling in the budgets of the central and local governments' forestry departments. Because the effects of forestation work are not as immediately visible as they are in normal construction projects, they require a long and sustained effort to produce results. Therefore, pledging fast returns as justification for their budgets would be an empty promise.
It is also important that we re-educate people involved in forestry as soon as possible. As the old industrialized forestry industry moves into more modern, more ecologically friendly operations, there have been great improvements in forestry technology and thinking. Giving these workers re-education and self-empowerment is very important.
Finally, legal amendments are the most crucial aspect of reforestation. Under the current purchasing laws and contracting system, Aborigines are often relegated to weeding duties for Han contractors. If local residents are to get involved in the operation and management of the forests, then the related laws must be adjusted. Many counties have therefore enacted tree protection clauses, but they aren't able to agree on which trees should be protected. The enforcement of the laws are also disjointed. The central government, and particularly the Forestry Bureau, should standardize legislation to prevent a jumble of conflicting regulations that could end up making matters worse, despite the best of intentions.
Liaw Shyue-cherng is an assistant professor in the department of geography at National Taiwan Normal University.
Translated by Marc Langer.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath