On the 30th, the Hualien District Office of the Forestry Bureau allied with mountaineering clubs such as the Hualien County Mountain Association and the Hualien County Preschool Teachers' Mountaineering Association, pledging to jointly safeguard the nation’s mountain forests and natural resources. Huang Li-ping, deputy director of the Hualien Forest Management Office, said that incidents of illegal logging and poaching in remote mountain areas have been frequent. With limited manpower in public agencies, the involvement of civilian groups adds significant support to forest conservation efforts.
Huang Li-ping stated that in recent years, exaggerated reports on the anti-cancer effects of Taiwan yellow cypress mushrooms, along with the popularity of woodcrafts made from Taiwanese cypress among tourists, have led to rampant theft of trees such as yellow cypress, red cypress, and Hinoki cypress. Criminal syndicates have even emerged, employing not only well-organized operations but also hiring strong, undocumented migrant workers to assist in transportation, making prevention increasingly difficult.
Huang Li-ping said that to combat illegal logging and poaching, the Forest Management Office has increased patrol staffing in remote mountain areas and is also working closely with the Hualien District Prosecutors Office, the county police bureau, forest police, and indigenous communities. However, driven by profit, illegal loggers continue to defy penalties and repeatedly commit offenses. Therefore, the office is seeking alliances with civilian forces to jointly crack down on unlawful activities. These nature-loving individuals can also help prevent forest fires and promote the Leave No Trace movement, becoming a strong force in protecting the nation’s forests.
Yang Ying-gan, chairman of the Preschool Teachers' Mountaineering Association, said that the association’s members are all friends who love mountains and forests. Whenever they come across someone setting traps or find small segments of precious timber, they feel deeply saddened. In the future, fellow hikers will act as the eyes of the Forestry Bureau, proactively reporting any illegal activities or damaged trails to help preserve forest resources and maintain hiking quality.
(China Times)