Respect for aborigines, state-owned woodland open wild vegetables, wind fallen wood collection, red juniper and other valuable trees "open under conditions"

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In order to respect the living habits of the coexistence of aborigines and forests, the Committee of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan and the Committee of Aboriginal nationalities (aborigines) jointly issued yesterday (4) the rules on the adoption of forest products by aborigines according to their daily customs. according to item 4 of Article 15 of the Forest Law, based on traditional culture, rituals, non-profit self-use and other living habits, needs and past traditions and customs, aborigines will be in state-owned and public woodlands in the future. Forest products such as wild plants and fungi can be collected legally.

In response to questions from the outside world, the new law will be able to open up the felling of valuable tree species such as red juniper, said Li Yunzhong, head of afforestation production at the Forestry Bureau. For valuable trees (such as red juniper) or precious and rare plants protected by cultural resources law (such as Sabina vulgaris), it is necessary to apply for a tribal proposal, and the Forestry Bureau will go to the site to evaluate and confirm that the number of use does not affect the species before it can be used.

The parts of driftwood and wind-fallen wood, regardless of whether they are valuable trees or rare plants, need to be applied for by the tribe and are not open to individuals. On the other hand, thinning (thinning in order to maintain the health of woodland) belongs to artificial forest, which is not open to the public and does not apply to these rules.

Li Zhang Liyuan, a warrior of the Darumak tribe of the Rukai nationality in Taitung (Photo / Lin Yijun)

Outsiders question whether it encourages theft? Forestry Bureau: it will continue to manage.

In response to questions from the outside world, will the opening up of indigenous collection of state-owned public woodlands lead to the theft and felling of precious tree species or the abuse of mountain rats? Li Yunzhong said that the purpose of this law is to encourage indigenous people to move towards tribal autonomy and restore the right of collection. Illegal mining or felling of precious trees is not within the scope of this law. "whether there is such a rule or not, mountain rats that can be stolen will still be stolen." will continue to enforce the law.

In view of the past incidents of "cutting down trees and then disguised as driftwood", will the opening up of indigenous people to pick up driftwood lead to an increase in the number of cases of theft? Li said that driftwood still has to be applied for by the tribe, while illegal harvesting needs to be returned to criminal treatment.