Scientists wary of climate change

Chang said that the government should requisition private land in disaster areas. In addition, Chang added that the government should allow residents in disaster areas to relocate to state-owned land used by Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖).

Wu Yi-hsiung (吳義雄), an NPF Fellow and former deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Administration, said that over-exploitation in mountainous areas made mudslide disaster prevention more challenging.

"Setting a limit for human activities in mountainous areas is the first step in disaster prevention measures," Wu said.

Meanwhile, agricultural council officials yesterday revealed a draft of a long-term project to restrict human activities in mountainous areas in addition to a list of short-term mudslide disaster prevention measures.