Taiwan agency opens rare plant restoration site

台灣開設珍稀植物復育基地

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Hsinchu Branch of Taiwan’s Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency on Wednesday launched a rare plant restoration site in Miaoli County to mark Earth Day.

CNA reported that the site near Xinpu Railway Station in Tongxiao Township is turning idle land into a hub for restoring threatened native species. The agency said the project is supported by cooperation among government bodies, local communities, and private groups.

Officials said western Taiwan’s low-elevation hills face strong development pressure. They added that seasonal drought linked to the northeast monsoon and wildfire risks during Tomb Sweeping Festival threaten many native plants.

The agency said the Xinpu area hosts more than 17 threatened plant species within about five square kilometers. It added that the density of rare plants there is about 125 times the national average, making it a key biodiversity hotspot, per Hakka News.

Liberty Times reported that the agency began a long-term restoration plan in 2020. The plan includes surveys, seed conservation, nursery cultivation, and reintroduction into native habitats.

It has also expanded planting efforts to schools, railway areas, and community spaces. The agency said this helps link conservation with environmental education.

In recent years, the program has combined ecology with art and trained local residents as seed teachers. This year, a company joined efforts to adopt nearby idle land and plant eight threatened species, creating a visible demonstration site for conservation, UDN reported.

Officials said each species plays an important role in the ecosystem, including pollination and food supply. They warned that losing even one species could lead to the disappearance of others, eventually disrupting food chains and ecosystems, and stressed the need for long-term cooperation.