A few days ago, Penghu's county commissioner came up with the idea of selling off uninhabited off-shore islets to boost the county's economy. The Penghu County Council reportedly voiced its support for the idea. It's understandable that the county may have economic problems, but if its government focuses on short-term profits and rushes to pass a law without a long-term vision, it will probably destroy these islands.
The latest Penghu County survey says 19 of its 90 islands are inhabited. Most of the others have not yet been surveyed or registered, which according to land laws means that they are national property, with the exception of Niumuchien Island, a private island, which was surveyed during the Japanese period.
The Penghu islands are an ecological asset with rare landscapes. The basalt columns on Yuanpei and the landscapes on Chipei are both precious enough to be designated a world cultural heritage.
The uninhabited islands have even more distinguishing features. For instance, Cat Island, where swallows and gulls can often be seen to flock together, has been filed for status as a wildlife refuge. The seaweed on Kupo Islet is managed by Lungte Temple in Chihkan, which transformed an ancient system for picking seaweed into a modern enterprise. Pengpeng Beach and Sianjiao Island have developed into sea resorts that are popular with young people. The beautiful scenery of the high and steep basalt rocks on Dinggo, Chuchua and Tiechan islands are important scenic attractions.
If these uninhabited islands were to become private property, the rush to develop them for tourism would destroy the natural scenery. Does the Penghu government have the capability to handle 70 to 80 huge projects? Can it sustain the original ecology of the islands? Could the Penghu National Scenic Area become another Green Island, ruined by development?
The islands' value lies mostly in the "uniqueness" of their ecosystems and scenery. Their remoteness has turned them into nature's "treasuries," like the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos are an important center for global ocean research and education and are strictly managed. Access by visitors is controlled to allow for the preservation of the biodiversity that prompted Charles Darwin to develop his evolution theory.
However, islands have extremely fragile ecosystems that are easily damaged and hard to repair. Countless international conferences, alliances and archipelago countries have been trying to work out how to conserve these precious assets.
Indonesia hosted APEC's 2nd Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting, which addressed issues involving oceans and islands. The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has announced outlines for management based on the sustainable development of small islands and communities and stressing Jakarta's aggressive policies toward the protection of islands. It has taken a particularly strict stance on islands that involve a country's sovereignty -- for example baseline islands -- and islands with sensitive ecosystems.
China's State Oceanic Administration has also completed a draft island law to protect and manage uninhabited islands and those developed for tourism. The draft stipulates that islands belong to the state and can be rented for use only after a strict examination of their proposed use.
Regardless of whether or not an island is inhabited, nations should shoulder their responsibilities and draw up appropriate policies and measures to conserve these national assets, including a ban on selling islands.
Constant emigration from Penghu to Taiwan has made the procedures for exploiting and transferring land in Penghu more difficult. Although these factors highlight the difficulty in developing Penghu, they should not be considered a legitimate reason for the local government to sell uninhabited off-shore islands.
Penghu is beautiful and unique because of its many islets. If these were destroyed, Penghu would also be finished.
The county government and council should seek guidance from think tanks or forums on island sustainability to set basic ecological, environmental and landscape policies to prioritize the protection of the uninhabited islands. Then they should create measures to provide this protection. Whether the islands are designated for public use or for rent, there should be regulations to ensure the survival and development of Penghu County.
Chiau Wen-yan is a professor and director of the Institute of Marine Resource Management at National Taiwan Ocean University.
Translated by Ted Yang
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