Forestry agency permits driftwood scavenging in Taitung

林業保育署批准台東縣進行浮木拾荒

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Taitung Branch on Wednesday said the public may scavenge driftwood in the area under certain restrictions, per CNA.

FNCA official Lin Chiu-mien (林秋綿) said rules have been relaxed to allow individuals to cut and collect driftwood on-site. She added that public participation speeds post-storm cleanup and promotes resource recycling.

Lin emphasized that any driftwood not marked or tagged by the government is available for collection, regardless of size. However, the use of heavy machinery to retrieve driftwood in rivers or creeks remains prohibited.

For driftwood intended for commercial use, collectors must report at temporary forest product inspection posts and present identification to obtain legal property rights to the materials. No registration is required for personal use.

The FNCA said it reserves the right to restrict public scavenging during heavy rain or other hazardous conditions, per CNA. Current accumulations in Taitung are largely the result of torrential rains brought by Typhoon Ragasa.

In northern Taiwan, recent rainfall has also led to debris buildup, including driftwood, in the Taipei Feitsui Reservoir, per CNA. The reservoir administration said it is working to remove about 300 metric tons of driftwood and waste, a process expected to take roughly three weeks.