"On a national scale the problem of illegal farming in Taipei is pretty small, yet it's still damaging," said a spokesperson for the Council of Agriculture. "A lot of the illegal farming takes place at night. These guys know that no one will bother them then. Even if people do stumble across them very few bother tell the authorities."
At present those caught cultivating crops illegally face a maximum fine of NT$600,000, or from between six months and five years imprisonment. While the city government program is proving moderately successful, many feel the number of calls needs to increase drastically if the problem is to be dealt with on a scale that will make a difference and deter would-be illegal bamboo farmers. Until then, however, it looks as if environmentalists such as Spowart are facing an uphill battle.
"The hills around Taipei are beautiful and have a pretty high density of species, which is good news for all of us. But if profit- motivated individuals are allowed to destroy it the impact will be felt right across the board," Spowart said. "I hope the city government can do something to enforce its own laws. It needs regular monitoring and a lot more citizen involvement."
RSS