The Executive Yuan’s 2019 policy of making certain nature reserves open to the public is plagued with the commercialization of hiking groups and a lack of laws to prevent vehicles from driving into parts of nature not meant for driving, a recent Control Yuan report found.
According to the report, the Executive Yuan is aware of the commercialization of hiking groups and that their practices have often led to commercial disputes or resulted in emergency rescues.
The Control Yuan urged the Executive Yuan to draft laws or make motions to bring the situation under control.
Photo: Taipei Times
The report said that the 2019 policy has brought about the prevalence of the hiking industry, but operators have conducted acts, such as storing equipment in public lodgings, hogging campsites, receiving monetary benefits for fixed-location services, burning trash on mountains and other acts causing a change in animal habits that are inconducive to sustainability.
Moreover, these acts show that the government seemingly lacks authority, the report added.
While the Executive Yuan and its ministries have been increasing the number of available lodgings, campsites and public restrooms, it is evident that the nation’s understanding of the “leave no trace” concept leaves much to be desired, the report said.
The report also cites incidents of dirt bikes and jeeps driving off established roads, with inspections of Nantou County’s Wugonglun Shan (蜈蚣崙山) showing that drivers had removed obstacles barring them from passage and damaging roots and the soil, resulting in erosion.
The report said that local authorities were given NT$200,000 annually to prevent such incidents, but it was not enough, adding that most dirt bikes were not officially licensed and that it was difficult to find the perpetrators.
The report also said that mountain paths did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), and local authorities could only ask offenders to leave as per the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法).
It also mentioned that the number of incidents in the mountains in July was higher than in the same month over the past four years, with the majority being elderly people becoming lost.
The report also cited the Executive Yuan’s 2020 policy of encouraging the public to be closer to nature and said it was poorly thought out and did not respect the autonomy of indigenous people.
As indigenous people mostly reside in mountainous areas, government agencies should give them their due respect and obtain consent to use their land and to share with them the benefits of its use.
The report also cited recent indigenous protests of hikers disrespecting traditional grounds as proof that the Executive Yuan’s policies had failed to sufficiently respect indigenous people.
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