Overview of Resource Status

I. Forest Ecosystem

According to the results of the Fourth National Forest Resources Inventory, Taiwan’s forest area reaches 2.197 million hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 60.7%, approximately twice the global average. Broadleaf forests constitute the majority of forest types, accounting for 67%, followed by coniferous forests at 14%, coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests at 8%, and bamboo forests and bamboo timber mixed forests at 10%. The total growing stock is approximately 502 million cubic meters, with an average growing stock of 228 cubic meters per hectare, equivalent to a total carbon dioxide storage of 754 million metric tons.

In Taiwan, 79% of forests are natural forests or secondary forests. Natural forests exhibit distinct vegetation belt distributions along altitudinal gradients, which, from low to high elevations, include the Ficus-Machilus zone, the Machilus-Castanopsis zone, the Quercus zone, the Tsuga-Picea zone, the Abies zone, and the alpine vegetation zone. Coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests are commonly found within the Quercus zone, featuring species such as Taiwan red cypress, Taiwan hinoki, Luanta fir, and Taiwania cryptomerioides, all of which possess high economic and ecological value. Plantation forests account for 21% of total forest area. The primary afforestation species include Japanese cedar, Taiwan red pine, Taiwan red cypress, Taiwan Acacia, Spruce, Formosan Ash, Taiwania, Taiwan zelkova, Luanta fir, camphor tree, Formosan Alder, and Sweet Gum.

During tree growth, carbon dioxide is converted into biomass and stored in forest lands, thereby reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a result, forest carbon sinks are incorporated into net zero emission pathways around the world. To assess Taiwan’s forest carbon removal capacity, the Agency compiles the forestry sector greenhouse gas inventory in accordance with international standards, based on the results of the Fourth National Forest Resources Inventory and forestry statistical data. The report indicates that forest carbon removal has remained relatively stable in recent years, with the latest estimates showing that Taiwan’s forest carbon sink amounts to approximately 21.85 million metric tons of CO2.

II. Biodiversity

Located at the boundary between the tropics and subtropics, Taiwan’s steep terrain and highly variable climate have nurtured more than 65,000 species. Taiwan accounts for approximately 3.4% of the world’s total species, and exhibits a high proportion of endemic and rare species, demonstrating exceptionally rich biodiversity and genetic uniqueness. In accordance with the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, the Act on Wildlife Conservation, the National Park Law, and other relevant legislation, various types of protected areas have been designated and interconnected to form the approximately 300 kilometer long Central Mountain Range Conservation Corridor stretching from north to south, through which important natural resources are protected and managed by law. In addition, state-owned forest land designated under the Forestry Act accounts for approximately 42.5% of Taiwan’s land area. Under the land use regulations prescribed by the Forestry Act, forest resource conservation and sustainable use constitute the primary management principles, and conservation outcomes are further reinforced through zoning-based management. Statutory protected areas may be regarded as the core zones of Taiwan’s ecological conservation system, while the surrounding state-owned forest lands serve as buffer zones and sustainable use areas, effectively protecting forest resources and maintaining the biodiversity of other terrestrial ecosystems.

However, in the lowland and foothill plain regions dominated by wetland, lake, stream and agricultural ecosystems, approximately 55 percent of protected wildlife species and 64 percent of Red List endangered plant species are found to inhabit these areas. With population growth and increasing demands on natural resources, development pressures and industrialization have led to habitat fragmentation. Agricultural ecosystems in particular, unlike natural habitats, are landscapes influenced by human activities, yet they simultaneously provide habitats for various species. As a result, the sustainable use of state owned forest land outside protected areas has become a critical factor for national land conservation and sustainable development.

Since 2018, Taiwan has promoted the National Ecological Green Network Plan, designating 44 priority conservation areas and 45 conservation corridors in the foothill regions. Guided by systematic spatial planning, and through cross-ministerial collaboration and partnerships with local communities, the Plan adopts diversified strategies such as nature-based engineering methods, ecological corridors, the Satoyama Initiative, corporate participation and wildlife-friendly agriculture to advance conservation and restore existing ecological functions, mitigate habitat fragmentation, and restore ecological connectivity. In addition to integrating ecological conservation policy instruments with the technical resources of various agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Plan also promotes cross sectoral dialogue with national land planning, water resources, transportation and environmental sectors. By adopting nature-based solutions as an overarching approach, it jointly addresses social, economic and environmental challenges, and seeks to achieve the vision of sustainable development in which production, daily living and ecology are harmonized, realizing harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

Taiwan’s vision for advancing terrestrial biodiversity is to use the National Ecological Green Network as the spatial governance blueprint for ecological conservation. Through public private collaboration and the matchmaking of enterprises with local communities, joint efforts are made to invest in natural carbon sinks and biodiversity conservation. These actions actively respond to the global biodiversity targets under the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K-M GBF) of the United Nations, promote nature positive outcomes, share the benefits of ecosystem services, and jointly build a sustainable way of life in which people and nature coexist in harmony from forests to coastlines.