FAQs

Newly appointed clerks of the Bureau are employed and allocated according to related examination categories of the Junior and Senior Civil Service Examinations (公務人員高等或普通考試) which are held each July by Ministry of Examination.  For more information, please check the website of Ministry of Examination.  The information about clerks transfer and other categories personnel recruitment will be announced on our official website.

All research results are submitted to the requesting organization and to our Historical Documents Office upon completion of such research. We welcome you to come and use our Historical Documents Office, or you can direct your inquiries to the originator of the research request. If a research project is subsidized by the Council of Agriculture, it will be found in the annual “Summary Report on Agricultural Technological Research (and Construction) Planning, and Results,” some years of this report are also available in our historical records. Bureau address: No. 2, Hanchou S. Rd., Chungchen District 100, Taipei City.

Please contact us by using our suggestion page for further information. 

Please use online applications website for visiting nature reserve and forest reserve.

Please visit our Nature Conservation website for further information.

1. Shanping Nature Conservation Area: This park is situated in Kaohsiung County and falls under the jurisdiction of the Liouguei Research Center, Forestry Research Bureau. Please direct all enquiries accordingly. Liouguei Research Center Tel: (07) 6891028; Forestry Research Bureau operator: (02) 23033357, 23039978, ask for the Public Relations Division or visit Taiwan Forestry Research Institute.

2. Fushan Flora Park: This park is situated in Ilan County, and is under the jurisdiction of the Fushan Research Center, Forestry Research Bureau. Please direct all inquiries accordingly. Fushan Research Center Tel: (039) 228-900; Forestry Research Bureau operator: (02) 23033357, 23039978, ask for the Marketing Division, or go to their website at Taiwan Forestry Research Institute.

3. Simacouse: This location is classified as an Aboriginal Preserve, not a Forest Park, and is not part of the National Forest System (except for the “Holy Trees Cluster,” which is). We cannot provide tourism information on this area. To our understanding, Class-A Mountaineering Permits are needed in order to enter this area. Tourists are advised to enquire at the Hsinchu County Government Tourism Bureau, or local police stations.

4. Hsitou Forest Recreation Park: This park is managed by the Experimental Forest Management Office, National Taiwan University, thus please direct all enquiries accordingly, their website; operator: (049) 2642181, Hsitou Office Tel.: (049) 2612111.

5. Huisunlinchan Forest Recreation Park: This park is managed by the Experimental Forest Management Office, National Chungsing University, thus please direct all enquiries accordingly, their website; operator: (04) 22840397, Huisun Office Tel.: (049) 2941341.

6. Nanren Lake: This area falls under the jurisdiction of the Kenting National Park, thus all environmental education enquiries should be directed to the Conservation Education Section, Kenting National Park Management Office at (08) 8861321 ext. 242, or use the voice application hotline at (08) 8862048.

According to our census of March 2001, the largest “Holy Tree” is at the Taian Village, Taoyuan County. This census evaluated the individual trees by their trunk diameters, and the values may differ depending on the methods used or the location and shape of the trunks. Since most of the giant trees are situated in deep forests in the mountains, we advise tourists to view trees situated at open resorts or parks for your safety. Currently, open locations with giant trees include the Daguanshan, Guanwu (Fogwatch) and the Alishan areas. As for the difference between a “Holy Tree” and a “Giant Tree,” it was found that “Giant Tree” is a term commonly used by Westerners, and is the simplest to understand. “Holy Tree” is the term used by the Taiwanese and Japanese, in the belief that large trees have spirits living in them. The terms differ only in cultural understanding, not in nature.

1. Guanwu: Since Guanwu has yet to be declared an open Forest Park, you will not find related information on our website. For information, please see below: The Guanwu Forest Recreation Park is situated on the border of Wufong Village, Hsinchu County, and Taian Village, Miaoli County, in the Shuiba National Park. As of now it is still necessary to apply for a Class-A Mountaineering Permit in order to enter this area. Directions from Taipei to Guanwu: Please take the 3rd Taiwan Highway [台三線] and at Judong Township [竹東鎮] take the Local 122 Road [竹122線] also called the Nanching Highway [南清公路]. Travel along the Nanching Highway towards Wufong, Chingchuan, for about 60km. It is a two (2) hour trip from Judong to Guanwu. As for hotels and other information please enquire at the Hsinchu Regional Office, Tel.: (03) 5224163, or at the Guanwu Lodge, Tel.: (03) 5218853.

2. Daguanshan: Daguanshan is a Nature Conservation Area, not a Forest Park, thus its information is not included under travel and tourism. For information, please refer to our website under “Little Forest Encyclopedia” [森林小百科] then under “Introduction to National Forest Conservation Areas [國有林自然保護區介紹]. You can also request a pamphlet by mail, with return postage enclosed, from the Hsinchu Regional Office (Hsinchu Regional Office Address: No. 2 Chungshan Rd., Hsinchu City).

I.
1. To request our publications, please refer to our website under “Forestry Bureau Publications” [林務局出版品] then under “Index of Publications” [出版品目錄].
2. Taiwan Forestry Magazine: Currently a bi-monthly, it is distributed free on request. Please contact the Public Relations Section of the Forestry Bureau, Tel.: (02) 23515441 ext. 224, or ask by mail for your free subscription. 
3. Activities of the Forestry Bureau: Please direct your request to the Public Relations Section, Forestry Bureau, and include NT$20 return postage per copy requested (envelope needs to be slightly larger than A4). Tel.: (02) 23515441 ext. 222.

II.
For further information, you are welcome to browse at our Library, or our website.

Please refer to our website under “VISIT”, then go to “National Forest Recreation” or other subcategories. Please direct further questions to the various Regional Offices or the relevant Parks Offices.

Please refer to our homepage, under “VISIT”and click on the Park you would like to visit. You may also direct your requests to the reply-by-fax hotlines: Taipei (02) 23568167, Luodong (03) 9559167, Hsinchu (03) 5281167, Dongshih (04) 25247163, Nantou (04) 22811534, Chiayi (05) 2781359, Pingtung (08) 7668167, Taitung (089) 337167, Hualien (038) 334167.

The forestry videos of the Bureau, including “The Call of Formosa” [福爾摩沙的呼喚] and “Care for Taiwan, Walk in the Forest” [關懷台灣．森林行腳] programs, are not sold to the public. For forestry organizations, academic groups or schools, as part of official business, research, or personal collection, we can provide copies. Such fees are to be borne by the requesting organization. The use of such videos may not infringe on the Bureau’s copyright or business interests. Please direct your requests to the Public Relations Section, Tel: (02) 23515441 ext. 214.

All information on the geography of our forests is under the National Forestry Industry Basic Forest Maps [國有林事業區林班基本圖] and the 3rd Taiwan Forestry Resource and Land Use Investigation and Report [第三次台灣森林資源及土地利用調查資料]. In order to facilitate your request, please note the following:
1. For Basic Forest Maps: Please first note the areas of interest according to our Industry Zones, then place a formal request document to the Forestry Bureau, stating the purpose of the request, the required areas by Industry Zones, the requesting agency and contact phone number. There are two types of Basic Forest Data [林相資料]: 2. 3rd Taiwan Forestry Resource and Land Use Investigation and Report: For research, please contact our Inventory Section, or browse our 3rd Taiwan Forestry Resource and Land Use Investigation and Report at the Historical Documents Library. If document images are needed (such as the Land Use Map, Soil Layer Electronic Map), please first submit a formal request to the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, with a copy to the Forestry Bureau. With permission from the Council, actual application can then be directed to the Forestry Bureau, Information Technology Section, Tel: (02) 23515441 ext. 528.

Since our content is compiled by the Bureau’s dedicated individuals and thus subject to periodic updates, we would suggest linking to us as the preferred method. If quoting from us or using our data, please state clearly the source of such information as the Forestry Bureau, website: http://www.forest.gov.tw, to show respect to our intellectual property rights.

1. Eligible loan recipients: All individuals, companies, groups, organizations and schools that are managing private or public forests, or renting land to replant forests, may apply for this loan.
2. Application forms: Please obtain the application form from any branch of the Land Bank, the Forestry Department of any County Government Agricultural Bureau, or any Farmer’s Cooperative that is contracted to provide the Forest Reconstruction Loan as an agent of Land Bank. You may request assistance from such offices in filling out the forms.
3. The application should be directed to: the local Land Bank branch of your official residence, or the local Farmer’s Cooperative that is contracted to provide such loans.
4. Necessary documents: Application form, Forest Replanting Plan Drawing or Survey Chart, documents proving right of ownership or agreement from owner(s).
5. Rates: For forest replanting the loan rate is at 3% per annum.
6. Loan amount: The maximum amount that can be borrowed is NT$5 million.
7. Method of approval: The receiving bank will redirect the information to the appropriate Forestry Bureau agency, appending a recommended loan figure based on the annual published replanting costs. The receiving bank will manage the gathering of collateral, credit checks and making the loan according to appropriate regulations.
8. For further information on such loans, please refer to the topic “Reforestation Loans,” under “Reforestation Services,” below “Services to the Public” and “Download Applications.”

1. Beginning this year, the Forestry Bureau is assisting in the Doubling Tourists Plan [觀光客倍增計畫], part of the National Developments Plan – Challenge 2008 [挑戰二○○八－國家重點發展計畫], thus aggressively constructing the National Trail System, in order to let the numerous forest trails become avenues for experiencing nature, examining wildlife, understanding culture, increasing health, and providing leisure. The National Forest Trail System will integrate inhabited areas, roads, transit stations, other paths, cultural assets, and others as part of the system planning; making the Trail System the product, living environments and transit stations the advertising, and roads and other paths the connections. This structure is not limited to the Trail System itself, but rather a way to make the trails more accessible and more complete as a system for experiencing a complete environmental and leisure network, hoping to improve accessibility and use by the general public.

2. Actual construction details include:  3. Through the development of the National Trail System, in coordination with related agencies, integrate natural leisure areas, and develop suitable tourism themes accordingly, in order to fully grow and nurture our natural and cultural resources while considering conservation, economic development and social welfare, thus achieving the dream of a new, greener Taiwan.

Every year on Tree Planting Day, the Bureau provides various potted plants and saplings for the general public to adopt and cultivate. Locations include: the front gate of the Bureau, the square at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, in front of National Taiwan University’s Forestry Building, and all Regional Offices of the Bureau. For details, as the day approaches, please see our website under “News” and also in all major newspapers.

1. Please select the “Services to the Public” menu at our website, go to “Online Applications and Services,” then “Purchase Basic Photographs.”
2. You may purchase them directly from the Aerial Survey Office, address: No. 100-1 Heping W. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei City (Near the corner of Nanhai Rd., across from the Flora Park.). Tel: (02) 23031935, (02) 23011270 exts. 502,503.
(1). Private individuals and organizations may purchase unclassified basic photographs. Color prints, NT$300 each. Single-color developed prints, NT$550 each.
(2). Photographs classified as confidential can be sold only to organizations, schools, or public offices, with official application and permission.
3. For photographs classified as secret or above, please direct your inquiries to the Ministry of Defense.