Forestry agency uses drones to reforest Hualien

林業保育署運用無人機於花蓮進行造林

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said Saturday that it is using drones to reforest landslide areas upstream of the Mataian River.

Heavy rain from Typhoon Wipha caused landslides near the river and formed a barrier lake in July 2025. Two months later, heavy rain from Typhoon Ragasa caused the lake to overflow and fail, flooding central Guangfu Township, per UDN.

The steep upstream terrain makes reforestation on foot dangerous. The forestry agency’s Hualien branch has therefore used drones to drop seeds and seedlings in materials developed with National Ilan University, per CNA.

The agency conducted its first two rounds of airdrops from December 2025 to January. The third took place from Sept. 5–7, covering about 20 hectares across 67 drop sites and bringing the total area covered to 40.2 hectares.

The latest mission featured three methods:

Seeds encased in moist gel granules that supply water and protection.
Germinated seedlings, growing medium, and seeds secured in water-soluble netting.
Seeds and growing material enclosed in water-soluble capsules.
The agency said drones are also being used to monitor plant growth. Once root systems and ground vegetation become established, they are expected to reduce erosion and the amount of sediment flowing downstream, lowering the risk of river siltation and blockages.