The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday announced major reforms to its afforestation program, shortening subsidy periods from 20 years to six years and introducing new bonus categories.
The agency said the changes establish clear goals for commercial and noncommercial forests, designed to promote a “comprehensive upgrade” in forest management.
The agency launched “Afforestation Subsidies 2.0” at a news conference in Taipei, saying the revised subsidies would take effect immediately.
Photo: Yang Yuan-ting, Taipei Times
Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) described forests as a “strategic asset.”
“Commercial forests can be jointly managed with forestry management cooperatives, while for noncommercial forests we will promote payments for ecosystem services to highlight the value of forest conservation,” he said.
Agency Director-General Lin Hua-ching (林華慶) said the incentive program, first enacted in 2008, represented a major reform of afforestation policy, adjusting goals, tree species selection, incentive periods, bonuses and the location of afforestation areas.
The agency “invites forest farmers, public and private associations, and unincorporated associations to join afforestation and forest management,” he said.
More than 5,700 hectares of hillside terrain has already been afforested, contributing to national land conservation and greening.
The 20-year period of the previous system was “too long,” the “bonuses were based only on survival rates and the goals were unclear,” he said.
“At NT$600,000 per hectare over 20 years, almost half of it was for merit,” Lin said.
Under the new program, subsidy recipients can obtain NT$500,000 in the sixth year if requirements are met, with an additional NT$50,000 per hectare as either a reforestation subsidy or a structural lumber subsidy.
A maximum of NT$600,000 per hectare can be received in six years, Lin said, adding that the reforms also broaden the goals of afforestation.
“The value of forests will be made more diverse, with incentives for lumber production, environmental and ecological functions, developing an under-forest economy and forest therapy,” he said.
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
‘ANGRY’: Forgetting the humiliations and sacrifices of ‘the people of the Republic of China’ experienced disqualified Lai from being president, Ma Ying-jeou said Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday criticized President William Lai (賴清德) over what he called “phrasing that downplayed Japan’s atrocities” against China during World War II. Ma made the remarks in a post on Facebook on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ma said he was “angry and disappointed” that Lai described the anniversary as the end of World War II instead of a “victory in the war of resistance” — a reference to the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). The eight-year war was a part of World War II, in which Japan and the other Axis
RSS