Forest and hillside conservation may be downgraded; environmental groups criticize the national spatial plan draft for greatly loosening development
In response to the recently released "National Spatial Plan Draft," several environmental groups held a press conference today, directly criticizing the draft for downgrading existing forest areas from the first category of "national conservation areas" to the second category, while most hillside areas are also not listed under the second category. This amounts to a major loosening of mountain and forest conservation, effectively clearing the way for illegal high-mountain development. In response, the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior said it was merely a "change in name," that the National Spatial Plan was created to replace regional plans and fully implement conservation functions, and that misunderstandings over terminology would be further discussed with the environmental groups.
The Ministry of the Interior proposed the "National Spatial Plan (Draft)" in October last year, after which public exhibitions and public hearings will be held in all 22 counties and cities across Taiwan, China. After the public hearings are completed, the draft will be sent to the National Spatial Plan Review Committee for examination, expected to be sent to the Executive Yuan for review and approval in January, and announced on May 1.
Liu Chien-kuo: Protection of forest areas and hillside land is being reduced. Don't wait until your descendants have no water to drink before regretting it
In response, Legislator Liu Chien-kuo said that even as the National Spatial Plan is about to be implemented, the protection of some forest areas is being reduced, hillside land protection is being downgraded, and extremely precious algal reef sites are also facing a development crisis. Is it that everyone finds the lush green land before their eyes too glaring? Moreover, reduced protection of forest areas and hillside land may worsen sedimentation in rivers and reservoirs. Don't wait until your descendants have no water to drink before regretting it.
Ministry of the Interior: There is no so-called conservation downgrade, only differences in terminology
Facing questions from environmental groups, Chen Chi-ming, Director of the Urban and Rural Development Branch of the Construction and Planning Agency under the Ministry of the Interior, explained that the National Spatial Plan is meant to replace previous regional plans, so existing forest areas including national forests and planted forests are not being removed, but are being given clearer definitions in the National Spatial Plan Act. For example, nature reserves within national forest management areas, as well as national security areas and protection forests, will be listed under the first category of "national conservation areas."
As for the allegation that protection levels are being lowered, Chen pointed out that this should have been raised at the meeting by the Ministry of Education, regarding the "experimental forest areas," hoping for some space for thinning or collection; economic forests, on the other hand, will be designated under the second category of national conservation areas, not for development, but for forest management. Therefore, Chen Chi-ming also emphasized that overall it is "just a difference in terminology," and that parts with doubts will be communicated with society.
Meanwhile, in response to the Council of Agriculture being named for loosening restrictions, the Forestry Bureau emphasized that national forests including national security areas and nature reserves will still remain in the first category of national conservation areas; as for the two parts of timber management areas and forest recreation areas, they will be classified under the second category of national conservation areas, so there should be no downgrade issue.