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Activists concerned about revised list
BACK IN DANGER? :
The Conservation Division director said when the list was created all species unique to Taiwan were included even though some did not need to be on it
By Hua Meng-ching and Chung Li-hua
STAFF REPORTERS
Monday, Mar 03, 2008, Page 2
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The brown treefrog is one of the 18 species that may be removed from the Schedule of Protected Species List.
PHOTO PROVIDED COURTESY OF YEH KUO-CHENG
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Animal rights activists yesterday expressed concern that the Council of Agriculture's recent removal of certain species from the Schedule of Protected Species List after their numbers had increased because of successful protection measures might mean that they are once again exposed to the perils that endangered them in the first place.
On Feb. 21, the council announced a draft revision of the Schedule of Protected Species List under the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法) that removed 18 kinds of birds, reptiles and amphibians unique to Taiwan from the list.
Fang Kuo-yun (方國運) director of the Forestry Bureau's Conservation Division said because of the political climate when the list of protected species was first announced in 1989, all species unique to Taiwan were included, when in fact some of them did not need to be included on the list since they were very common and existed over a wide area.
As an example of animals being removed from similar lists overseas, Fang said that the national bird of the US, the bald eagle, had its protection removed under the US Endangered Species Act after conservation measures proved effective, adding that this was an action the US government took pride in.
Fang said that differing views would be compiled and provided to experts as a basis for further discussion before a final decision on the list was made.
Environmental photographer Chong Rong-fong (鍾榮峰) and Wild Bird Society of Taipei lawyer Chan Shun-kuei (詹順貴) have initiated a signature drive recommending that the council keep the species on the list.
Chan said that the draft violates the Wildlife Conservation Act, which stipulates that animals unique to one area should be protected and said that there should be no difference between "unique to one area" and "unique to Taiwan."
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