Twenty years of afforestation destroyed in an instant: Taisugar plans to cut 200 hectares of trees and convert the land into an "agrivoltaic park"; Wanluan residents say cutting trees for power is putting the cart before the horse

The beautiful Pingtung Coastal Mountain Highway sits at the foot of the Dawu Mountains, and the 20-year flatland afforestation along its roadside, stretching from Fangliao in the south to Gaoshu in the north, is a source of local pride as an eco-tourism route. Recently the landowner, Taisugar, announced plans to cut 200 hectares of trees and convert the area into an "agrivoltaic zone," triggering strong local protests.

The first public hearing for coordination was held yesterday (the 18th). Taisugar said that to develop green energy it is planning "agriculture-compatible solar power," keeping the land in agricultural use beneath the solar panels, and that it will not impact the existing environment. Wanluan residents opposed the plan, arguing that 20 years of afforestation already provides value in water retention, air purification and wildlife habitat, and that cutting trees for power does not match the values of the energy transition. The briefing ended in deadlock with no consensus. Taisugar said it will gather opinions and draft a new plan, while Wanluan Township Chief Lin Guoshun demanded that Taisugar abandon the plan and said there was no need for further discussion.

The Coastal Mountain Highway is lush and green, but 20 years of afforestation may come to nothing

Pingtung County Highway No. 185, also known as the "Coastal Mountain Highway," winds through open countryside and passes through Minnan villages, Hakka communities and indigenous tribal townships, making it a famous road-trip route. Locals have even formed the Coastal Mountain Highway Tourism Strategy Development Alliance to promote community eco-tourism.

The success of the Coastal Mountain Highway is attributed to past successes in the farmland protection movement. During the tenure of Magistrate Cao Qihong, to prevent the loss of Taisugar's prime farmland along the route to arbitrary development, and on the recommendation of civil environmental groups, flatland afforestation was coordinated, creating today's lush highway scenery.

To align with the Executive Yuan's energy policy and growing electricity demand, Taisugar has since late last year planned to launch multiple solar power zones in Pingtung. Among them, on 650 hectares of Taisugar farmland in Wanluan Township, after deducting 200 hectares leased to farmers for pineapple cultivation, Taisugar plans to select 200 hectares of the afforested land with poorer tree stands and launch several agriculture-compatible solar power zones.

On February 18, Taisugar held its first local briefing at the Wanluan Township Office, with Liang Yaoguang, head of the Biomass Energy Assessment and Development Section of Taisugar's Renewable Energy Group, and the planning firm presenting the plan. They were met with united opposition from residents and local groups, who believe the beautiful green highway will be ruined by the green energy development project.

Taisugar: Agriculture-compatible solar power will keep the land in agricultural use and will not impact the existing environment

Yuan Shumei, manager of Liyang Company, which was commissioned by Taisugar to plan the project, said in her briefing that in the past economic forests were planted to retain farmland, and that the agriculture-compatible solar power zone is meant to restore farmland to agricultural use while also generating green energy, which is a boost for environmental protection. Yuan said the originally planted economic forests had reached their harvest age, and that because of poor growth and the planting of windbreak species such as beefwood, cajeput, lumnitzera and pongamia, they were also not economically worthwhile.

She stressed that if the solar park is developed in the future, the environmental protection forest and bicycle path on both sides of the highway will be preserved, and only areas with poor tree stands will be selected for development. The agriculture-compatible solar power zone is about restoring afforested land to agricultural use rather than destroying farmland, and will involve cooperation with local young farmers returning home or farmers' groups to promote agricultural development.

Yuan Shumei said that during the 20-year management and maintenance of the solar panels, local residents will also be hired, ensuring sustainable local operation. She stressed that the existing tourism and leisure functions and flood control functions will be implemented in future planning, and that the agriculture-compatible solar power zone will also become a future environmental education site.

Local opinion: Cutting trees for power puts the cart before the horse; residents suffer the harm before seeing any benefit

Wanluan Township Chief Lin Guoshun said that local residents were mobilized by the Forestry Bureau to take part in 20 years of flatland afforestation, and they have an emotional investment in this large forest. Now that the trees are at their prime, locals see the forest's value as an asset for developing community tourism and will absolutely not accept a plan to cut them down for development.

Lin Guoshun said: "Taisugar's land is state-owned and belongs to all citizens, and land use must respect local residents. Cutting trees for power puts the cart before the horse; the people of Wanluan suffer the harm before seeing any benefit." He also questioned whether Taisugar is only managing state