The Council of Agriculture is planning the construction of two massive arboretums in southern and central Taiwan in projects that will span two decades and cost tens of billions of NT dollars, council officials said.
The council would submit its proposal, titled The National Arboretums Construction Plan, to the Council for Economic Planning and Development at the end of this month, the council's Forestry Research Institute said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, council officials said that if the proposal were approved, forested areas at 2,500m above sea level in southern and central Taiwan would be developed into arboretums showcasing the nation's biodiversity.
Taiwan is home to more than 4,000 indigenous plant species and existing arboretums lack vegetation native to high-elevation ecosystems, the officials said, adding that two thirds of the nation is covered by peaks reaching 1,500m above sea level or higher.
The high-elevation arboretums would boost the arboretum industry locally, while educating the public on native flora and fauna not typically showcased or appreciated because of its remote, mountainous habitats.
The Taiwan Forestry Research Institute already manages arboretums -- in Taipei, on Fushan (福山), Ilan County, on Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), Chiayi County and Taitung County's Taimali Township (太麻里) -- but management emphasis is on research and conservation, not public education and leisure, sources said.
This has resulted in budget shortfalls and disrepair, while the arboretum in Taimali Township was shut down because of a lack of funds.
The new arboretums, however, would be directly under the council's jurisdiction and would emphasize leisure and education and encourage the public to visit, officials said.
They added that similar parks in the US, Australia and South Africa have done a brisk business and remained vibrant using this public-oriented approach.
Development at a higher elevation means the new parks would feature all the best plant life from the country's temperate, tropical and subtropical habitats, the officials said.
The parks would be open to the public after 15 years of planning and construction, they added.
Taiwan boasts a century of arboretum development and tourism.
Two million visitors descended on the Taipei Arboretum annually during the Japanese colonial-era, while Fushan boasts the nation's highest and biggest arboretum. Opened just last year, the arboretum in Chiayi County is the newest such park, while Taimali Township's arboretum, which featured mostly coastal vegetation, was scotched halfway through its construction due to a lack of money.
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