Tree Protection

Trees can cleanse the air and help to conserve soil and water and stabilize the environment. Their contribution to the ecosystem is great. Old trees have an especially intimate relationship with people’s lifestyles and religious beliefs in early days. They have great humanistic and community-awareness value. In recent years, people have taken old tree protection work more seriously. In order for us to integrate the domestic old tree preservation information, since 2004, we started implementing the Precious Old Trees Plan. A total of 22 counties and cities were involved. The plan includes comprehensive old tree inspections, establishing of complete information, advocacy of old-tree concepts, habitat improvement, and disease and insect control and prevention or management. As of end of 2015, 16 county and city governments had stipulated related self-governance regulations regarding old tree protection according to local laws. On July 1, 2015, we also added articles regarding tree protection in the Forestry Act. Local competent authorizes should conduct inspections on the trees within their jurisdiction. The trees under protection should be tabulated and announced. On May 27, 2016, we implemented the Standards of Tree Inspection Methods and Protected Tree Determination Outside Forests. This stipulates that, every five years, competent authorities in the municipality should conduct inspection on the woods, sidewalk trees and single plants outside forests. People also have the chance to participate. The protected trees are inspected or reported for evaluation by competent authorities in the municipality. Anyone can provide related evidence and report to the competent authorities within the jurisdiction of the trees, and go through the procedures of approval for protected trees, so that all of the trees in this country can receive the protection they need.

1. 1. In accordance with Paragraph 3, Article 38 2 of the Forestry Act, the Agency has established the "Census Methods for Trees Outside Forests and Criteria for Protected Tree Identification." These standards assist local governments in implementing the Forestry Act’s provisions regarding tree protection, including the census, identification, registration, public announcement, and maintenance of protected trees. To date, 15 counties and cities, namely Taoyuan City, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Changhua County, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County, Taitung County, Hualien County, Penghu County, Kinmen County, and Lienchiang County, have completed the census and public announcement of protected trees under the Act. As of May 2025, 1,409 trees have been officially announced as protected, while 468 trees are either under management or meet the criteria for protection but have yet to be announced.
2. 2. In collaboration with the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, National Chung Hsing University, National Chiayi University, and the Experimental Forest, College of Bio-Resources and Agriculture of National Taiwan University, the Agency has established the National Protected Tree Health Examination Center. The Center plans to complete nationwide health inspections and risk assessments of all publicly announced and registered protected trees between 2025 and 2027. This initiative supports and guides municipal and county (city) governments in conducting necessary health checks, maintenance, and management of protected trees within their jurisdictions. These efforts aim to strengthen the protection and management of protected trees across Taiwan while safeguarding public safety and property.