The Council of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Interior yesterday launched the “iEco” ecological information portal and the cloud-based “Eco-community” aimed at promoting the beauty of the nation’s natural environment and providing city-dwellers with a memorable and educational sightseeing experience when they leave the city limits.
Combining the idea of an educational trip with a social network, Forestry Bureau Deputy Director-General Yang Hung-chih (楊宏志) said the Web sites are the result of interdepartmental collaboration by the bureau, Endemic Species Research Institute, and the Construction and Planning Office — the agency responsible for national parks.
They are also examples of a joint effort between industry, government and academia, with technical support from International Integrated Systems Inc and introductory notes by members from 47 non-governmental organizations and about 175 citizens, he said, adding that there are more than 13,000 entries concerning the nation’s natural habitats, flora, fauna and tourist spots.
Taiwan Ecotourism Association standing director Yang Chiu-lin (楊秋霖) said leisure time allows people to rest their minds and bodies and boosts the creativity needed for their work.
He called on the public to immerse themselves in nature and when they have time off embrace the wide variety of wildlife Taiwan is blessed with, as it is the best way to take a break from a busy life in the city.
“People visit Cingjing Farm (清境農場) time and time again, but pay little attention to Hehuanshan nearby. It is a pity because they miss out on the spectacular sunrise and other world-class scenery,” he said.
Hehuanshan (合歡山) is on the border between Nantou and Hualien counties
Longtan Community Development Association director-general Lee Chih-wen (李志文) said he hopes that the Eco-community cloud creates job opportunities for local people through the package tour that takes visitors to his community in Yilan County’s Jiaoshi Township (礁溪).
“We hope that with the guidance of the Forestry Bureau, retired or unemployed mothers in our community can work as tour guides or serve homemade food to tourists,” he said.
“With the business opportunities the project is expected to bring, we hope young people in our community would not have to move to cities to find work,” he added.
Longtan is one of the 28 communities represented by the cloud-based Eco-community and features ecologically-themed trips that range from half a day to two days. Known for its bitter gourd production, the community features all-natural canned bitter gourd and organic vanilla-based mosquito repellent.
People who want to obtain more information can visit the Web sites: www.ieco.tw and http://ecocommunity.ieco.tw
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