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Date of Petitioin: Starting from May 17, 2023
The "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" agreement, including the highly anticipated "30 by 30" target to protect 30% of the world's land, inland waters, coastal areas, and oceans, was adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15) in 2022. Taiwan, considering itself a global citizen, made a commitment to synchronize with the world by 2030 in protecting Taiwan's forest and marine biodiversity.
Since January 2021, the Taiwan Academy of Ecology has been conducting investigations and research on the mountainous areas in the southeastern Taiwan. After collaborating with the Taitung Forest District Office on a research project, it was discovered that the forests in the limited area of Taitung's Daren Township are home to the highest density and diversity of Fagaceae species in the country. Within the elevation range of 400 to 601 meters, there exist the most abundant 14 species of the Fagaceae family in Taiwan, and even within a 10-meter walk from the mountaintop of Zhushi Mountain (601 meters), nine Fagaceae species can be observed (including Castanopsis carlesii, C. kawakamii, Pasania shinsuiensis, P. brevicaudatus, P. chiaratuangensis , Cyclobalanopsis pachyloma, C. longinux, C. hypophaea, , Lithocarpus amygdalifolius ). This astonishing Fagaceae paradise undoubtedly represents a top-tier site for Fagaceae forests in the world.
Image 1: 14 Fagaceae species found in the Anshuo region (Photographed by Dong Ai-kuang)
a. Castanopsis carlesii b. Castanopsis indica
c. Castanopsis kawakamii d. Castanopsis faberi
e. Castanopsis formosana f. Lithocarpus amygdalifolius
g. Pasania brevicaudata h. Pasania chiaratuangensis
i. Cyclobalanopsis ternaticupula j. Pasania konishii
k. Pasania shinsuiensis I. Cyclobalanopsis pachyloma
m. Cyclobalanopsis glauca n. Cyclobalanopsis longinux
o. Cyclobalanopsis hypophaea
Within an area of 150 square kilometers in the southeastern Taiwan, a total of 26 Fagaceae species are found, accounting for approximately 0.42% of Taiwan's land area but representing 57% of the 45 Fagaceae species in Taiwan. Among these 26 species, an astonishing 11 species (42.31%) are endemic to this area, making the southeastern Taiwan possibly a "unique zone" with the highest proportion of endemic Fagaceae species. Previous studies estimated that it takes about 300,000 years for a Fagaceae tree species to evolve, yet in the approximately 10,000 years since the last glacial period, the southeastern Taiwan has evolved 11 endemic species, which is a remarkable feat.
Out of these 26 Fagaceae species, 3 are Near Threatened, 3 are Vulnerable, and 2 are Endangered. Southeastern Taiwan is not only the paradise and conservation hotspot of Fagaceae forests but also potentially a global conservation hotspot. Furthermore, we estimate that the southeastern region, with Fagaceae as the dominant species, covers approximately 90% to 95% of all forested land. The newly recorded endemic species we have discovered here include Cyclobalanopsis globosa (31 individuals) and Pasania glabra (9 individuals). These species are the last remnants of the upward migration after the end of the Little Ice Age in 1850, and they have only been observed to migrate to the ridges in the southeastern region (Shoa-ya Keteleeria area) and Taichung's Da-Keng Toukeshan, bearing witness to the remnants of warming.
The southeastern region serves as a transitional zone between mainland Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula, gathering high-altitude cloud forests from the cloud forest indicator species of Northeast Asia (such as Trochodendron aralioides) and the cloud forest indicator species of Southeast Asia (such as Spiridens reinwardtii, Alsophila loheri, and Blechnum fraseri). Together with some endemic species found only in this area, such as Swertia changii, it truly represents a unique temporal and spatial zone in Taiwan. Moreover, it is also a mysterious area with globally significant living fossil gymnosperms, such as Amentotaxus formosana and Keteleeria formosana.
Crisis in the Fagaceae Forest
However, the Fagaceae forests in the Anshuo region, especially the endangered Pasania chiaratuangensis, happen to be located on some farming and grazing land, facing the imminent threat of complete clearance for ginger fields. Fagaceae timber is being replaced with planting of the cultivation of shiitake mushrooms.
Precious Fagaceae forests being extensively cleared for ginger cultivation.
Precious Fagaceae forests being extensively cleared for ginger cultivation.
Large quantities of precious Fagaceae trees are being cut down in Daren Township. The image shows a logging truck leaving the forest.
Precious Fagaceae trees being cut into 4-5 feet lengths for mushroom cultivation.
Joint Advocacy Statement
We strongly advocate that the land ownership authorities must address this issue and not hide behind the civil law lease agreements. They need to demonstrate the perspective and high standards of the public sector, safeguarding the sustainable environment for future generations, and honoring the commitments made under the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework." We demand that the lessees immediately cease all development activities. Additionally, the Taitung County government must acknowledge the reality and necessity of ecological conservation and implement the "slow economy" of sustainable nature advocated by the county mayor. This should be done in accordance with the spirit of the "National Land Planning Act" by revising the existing zoning designations.
Based on the aforementioned background and reasons, we put forward the following assertions:
1.We urge the land ownership authority, the National Property Administration of the Ministry of Finance, to demonstrate administrative capabilities and curb improper land use and development practices.
2.We request the Taitung County government to reassess the land classification in the area according to the National Land Planning Act. The land in the Anshuo, Zhongxing, and Shaoya sections of Daren Township should be designated as “Category 1 land conservation areas” based on the findings of the Taiwan Southeast Region Vegetation Ecology Survey Project conducted by the Forestry Bureau.
3.While Taiwan has yet to complete a comprehensive ecological resource survey, this should not be an excuse for administrative inaction. We implore the Executive Yuan to exhibit listening and proactive abilities. They should address the institutional gap between public rights and private interests in the existing land management system, propose solutions, and establish reasonable mechanisms and regulations for the government's reclamation when valuable natural resources are discovered on farming and grazing land.
4.We call upon the Sustainable Development Council of the Executive Yuan to fulfill the commitments of COP 15's "30 by 30" and the United Nations' SDG 15. This involves considering both ecological integrity and the generational interests of local indigenous peoples. The planning for the Fagaceae forests in southeastern Taiwan should be designated as perpetually protected areas with indigenous cultures as the main focus, ensuring the sustainable development of the original Fagaceae forests.
Citizen groups participating in the petition include:
台灣生態學會、台灣健康空氣行動聯盟、彰化縣環境保護聯盟、彰化醫療界聯盟、台灣環境保護聯盟、社團法人公民自主發電行動聯盟、高雄市馬頭山自然人文協會、美濃愛鄉協進會、臺灣蜂類保育協會、屏東環境保護聯盟、台灣護樹團體聯盟、桃園海岸生態保育協會、台灣動物平權促進會、屏東縣林仔邊自然文史保育協會、台灣水資源保育聯盟、台東公民監督聯盟、環保聯盟台東分會、台東縣原住民東魯凱文化教育協進會、台灣生態工法發展基金會、台灣坡地防災學會、財團法人文化環境文教基金會、野菜學校、日和教育基金會、高雄市鳳山城文化志工協會、荒野保護協會台中分會、荒野保護協會嘉義分會、絲田水舌永續生態、台灣島永續發展協會、台灣原生種瀕危植物昆蟲復育研究學會、守護四分子螢火蟲家園、社團法人高雄市野鳥學會、社團法人台灣親子共學教育促進會、高雄市柴山會、社團法人中華民國自然生態保育協會、社團法人高雄市綠色協會、大樹巨環境教育協會、社團法人台灣濕地保護聯盟、社團法人中華民國微生聚落永續生態發展協會、高雄市公民監督公僕聯盟、高雄市社區大學促進會、草山生態文史聯盟、臺中市潭子書畫協會、插秧國際兒童教育創協會、社團法人臺灣蜻蜓學會、高雄市美濃八色鳥協會、屏東縣滿州鄉九棚灣島生態保育協會、杵音文化藝術團、台中市生活願景協進會、殼斗科種子研究推廣、水水環境青少年志工團、台東大腳小腳親子共學團、巨報探險隊、屏東縣滿州鄉小路部落協會、利河伯多元產業協會、台灣農業關懷使命團、新農業關注會、台灣新高齡社區健康發展學會、臺北市最美合唱文化推廣協會、財團法人淨竹文教基金會、七股土地資源保護協會、苗栗縣自然生態學會、新營長勝營區護樹聯盟、南投縣牛屎崎鄉土文史促進協會、南投縣環保志工協會、珍愛環境推廣教育協會、亞太經貿合作協會、台灣島永續發展協會、中華民國景觀學會、台灣永續聯盟、社團法人臺灣學生聯合會、台灣藝術市集協會、臺北市文山社區大學、台南市台南社區大學、台北市中山社區大學水水台灣社、永和社區大學福和濕地志工隊、台灣嘉義大學森林暨木設系友會、靜宜尋根樹、高雄市第一社大自然生態社、全國咖啡光合菌群組、台中市江淮環境教育讀書協會 、養泉公益基金會、台灣植得永續公益協會、台灣島永續發展協會 、台南文化守護行動聯盟 、環境法律人協會 、財團法人陳澄波文化基金會 、台灣千里步道協會、反西港外環道不當開闢自救會 、中華大學景觀建築學系 ... （陸續增加中）
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