A man who destroyed a patch of endangered beach grass by driving a dune buggy across a wetlands in Taichung County may face a fine of up to NT$250,000 (US$8,000), a Taichung policeman said yesterday.
The man, surnamed Chen (陳), was temporarily detained and questioned several days ago after he drove a dune buggy across the Kaumei Wetlands near the southern bank of the Dajia River (大甲溪), said Lee Tsai-an (李財安), head of the Chingshuei Police Department in Taichung County.
The all terrain vehicle damaged several hundred square meters of endangered guan grass that was growing on the Gaomei Wetlands (高美溼地), which is ecologically diverse and hosts many wild animals and plants, Lee said.
The guan grass, which grows naturally in the wetland’s salty soil, is an important aspect of the area’s diverse ecology.
The Chingshuei Police Department referred the case to the Taichung County government for advice on how to proceed with the case.
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