<strong>June 27 to July 3</strong>
“The Sacred Tree (神木) is on fire!” Tseng Tian-lai (曾添來) didn’t believe it at first as it was pouring rain, but he sensed the urgency in the caller’s voice. The Alishan Forest Railway station master stepped out and saw smoke billowing from the direction of the beloved 3,000-year-old red cypress.
The tree was struck by lightning in the afternoon of June 7, 1956, and a fierce blaze raged inside the eroded trunk, requiring nearly 200 people 20 hours to put it out. The authorities were especially nervous, according to a 1997 Liberty Times
The Forestry Bureau on Saturday reminded the public that possession of an African sacred ibis, a green iguana or a cane toad without a permit is punishable with a fine of up to NT$50,000 and confiscation of the animal.
The Council of Agriculture (COA) on April 4 unveiled a pet management division, while also drawing up a list of inappropriate species to import, bureau Conservation Division Director Lo Yu-chuan (羅尤娟) said.
The African sacred ibis, green iguana and cane toad are among the species designated as harmful invasive species, which means permits are needed to breed or own them, she said.
People who
The Forestry Bureau on Wednesday outlined a plan to make Taiwan’s lumber industry at least 5 percent self-sustainable by 2027 by promoting creative consumer products.
The bureau made the announcement at an exhibition showcasing the results of the Taitung Forest District Office’s collaboration with the Sunrise Driftwood Workshop.
Aiming to “recreate the beauty” of native Taiwanese wood, the workshop based in Taitung County’s Taimali Township (太麻里) created furniture using legally and sustainably sourced local lumber.
Three furniture sets for an entrance hall, study and dining room are to be displayed at the Taitung Story Museum until Dec. 30.
The sets were conceptualized by Huang