Facing invasive lizard dilemma, Chiayi trying a different tack
02/10/2021 01:27 PM
Brown anoles are pictured in Chiayi County in this undated photo (courtesy of the Chiayi County government)
Taipei, Feb. 10 (CNA) The brown anole, an invasive lizard species native to Cuba and the Bahamas, has been causing damage to Taiwan s ecosystems for years, but solutions to controlling its spread have been elusive.
Now a university research team in Chiayi County is trying a different approach working with plant nurseries in parts of the county to get rid of anole eggs from plant soil that appears to be promising.
Chiayi County was the entry point for the non-native species and has been at the epicenter of its proliferation for nearly two decades.
Taiwan eyeing post-COVID-19 travel niche in the woods
02/03/2021 10:28 PM
Alishan. File photo courtesy of the Chiayi Forest District Office
Taipei, Feb. 3 (CNA)Taiwan s tourism industry, laid low by the COVID-19 pandemic, is gearing up to find a niche market in ecotourism, encouraging people to visit the country s forests, in particular, authorities said recently.
In the wake of a six-month pilot program that allowed citizens and foreign residents to visit any one of Taiwan s 12 forest recreational areas for free, officials said they are hoping that the momentum would continue, creating new possibilities for the country s travel industry.
According to the Forestry Bureau, some 2.38 million tourists visited the forest parks July 15-Dec. 31 last year during the special promotion, representing a 38 percent increase from the same period in 2019.