Illegal logging in Taiwan’s state forests has dropped dramatically over the past decade. According to the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, cases fell from 290 in 2013 to just 58 in 2024. This nearly 80% decrease clearly shows the success of new strategies combined with community efforts. Agency Director Lin Hua-ching explained that a multi-pronged approach caused the decline.
First, the agency introduced technology-based monitoring systems. These systems provide real-time alerts and early warnings. Furthermore, the agency collaborated closely with police and local communities. Together, they increased forest patrols and strengthened enforcement.
Additionally, 91 communities, including those in Miaoli, Nantou, and Taitung, now participate in patrols. Since locals know the terrain better, their involvement is crucial. For instance, Lin Ken-I, village chief in Taitung’s Beinan Township, said his village helped solve nearly 30 illegal logging cases.
He also urged the government to raise patrol stipends for community members to encourage more participation. Moreover, the agency employs integrated maps, trend charts, and data analysis. These tools identify hotspots and predict where illegal logging might occur. As a result, authorities can focus patrols and respond faster.
To address the root causes, the agency helps Indigenous mountain communities find alternative income sources. Since many residents rely on illegal logging for survival, this shift is vital. Programs now promote beekeeping, mushroom farming, and eco-tourism. Consequently, the economic pressure to engage in illegal logging has lessened.
Research from National Taipei University further supports these efforts. Biology professor Chen Hsiang-fan studied convicted loggers and found most lived within 20 kilometers of the forests they targeted. Moreover, interviews with 92 individuals revealed that many came from single-parent or disadvantaged households. Therefore, illegal logging often became a last resort for survival.
Chen also highlighted cases where earnings from illegal logging funded harmful habits. For example, one logger reportedly made NT$100,000 (US$3,364) in a single day and used the money to buy drugs. This fact underscores the social challenges linked to illegal logging.
Overall, illegal logging in Taiwan’s state forests has dropped significantly because of combined technology, community patrols, and alternative livelihoods. Moving forward, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency plans to expand these programs further. Thus, the country’s valuable forests will remain better protected.
