The forest ecosystem provides people with diverse service values such as supplies, support, regulation, and culture. Sixty percent of Taiwan's land is covered by forest, and these forests are home to an extremely high biodiversity. There are more than 4,000 species of vascular plants, which can bring significant potential benefits for humans that should not be underestimated. The Forestry Bureau under the Council of Agriculture published a list of native forest plants with potential for horticultural and landscape applications today (17th). On it, there are a total of 106 species which, it is hoped, more members of the public and government agencies will cultivate and promote. According to the Forestry Bureau, with the purpose of discovering the diverse and sustainable values of Taiwan's forest plants, it commissioned a research team from National Chung Hsing University at the end of 2018 to inventory the different plants in Taiwan's forests that have potential use for horticulture, landscape, or as a source of honey or health supplement. Furthermore, plant specimen collection and seedling cultivation have been successively carried out in the national forest areas. It is hoped that through the promotion of planting, the diverse service value of Taiwan's forest ecosystem will be brought into play, and the use of foreign species reduced. In addition to promoting Taiwan's native forest plants for horticultural and landscape applications at the press conference, the Forestry Bureau also invited representatives from the Taiwan National Federation of Landscape Trade Associations, Taiwan National Federation of Horticulture & Flower Trade Associations, Chi Sing Environmental Greening Foundation, Taiwan Tree Origin Conservation Foundation, and Forestry Specialists Association to sign a memorandum of understanding to jointly promote the cultivation of native forest plants. Lin Hwa-Ching, Director General of the Forestry Bureau, pointed out that Taiwan's forests are extremely rich in species diversity, whether it is trees, shrubs, or ground cover plants, and contain many species with horticultural, landscaping, and even health supplement potential. But in the past, no systematic inventory-taking or promotion of such applications have been carried out. Due to the long-term evolution of native plants in the local environment, they have excellent characteristics for cultivation, such as better environmental adaptation, better eco-efficiency, and easier management and maintenance. Through urban planting, the creation of endemic plant green spaces will serve as the foundation for a sound metropolitan ecosystem and create ecological corridors for wildlife and plants that will contribute to the harmonious symbiosis of man and nature. The list of 106 native plant species recommended by the Forestry Bureau for gardening and landscaping includes such species as Liodendron (Liodendron formosanum (Kanehira & Sasaki) H. Keng), Christmas berry (Ardisia miaoliensis S.Y. Lu), and Cochinchina Homalium (Homalium cochinchinensis (Lour.) Druce). In addition to having different characteristics and beautiful appearances, with many also being shade- and drought-tolerant, these species are suitable for potted plants, gardens, and urban greening. For example, Drypetes (Drypetes littoralis) has blunt rounded sickle-shaped leaves, while its clusters of red fruits are also popular flower arrangement materials. The plant is drought-tolerant and wind-resistant, and so it is suitable for planting in coastal areas. Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) has dense foliage and an elegant form, making it very suitable as a street tree or as a part of the garden landscape; the plant also has medicinal value. Christmas berry has strong shade tolerance; the backs of the leaves are purple with slightly wavy leaf margins, and the plant bears red fruits; it is excellent for indoor planting. Mori Cleyera (Cleyera japonica Thunb. var. morii (Yamam.) Masamune) and Euscaphis (Euscaphis japonica (Thunb.) Kanitz) have brightly-colored flowers and fruits and are rich sources of honey, which can also feed birds, bees, and butterflies; the plants are suitable for urban greening. After signing the MOU with the Forestry Bureau, representatives of the industry, trade associations, and organizations also expressed their strong support for the promotion of Taiwan forest plants for horticultural and landscape applications, which would not only open up new business opportunities but also implement conservation concepts. The Forestry Bureau also scheduled a seedling donation event at Taipei Hope Square on the morning of March 20 (Friday). This year marks the first time when the full range of available plants was made up of only native tree species. Members of the public were welcome to request the seedlings and plant these beautiful native species to enhance the ecosystem of Taiwan. The Forestry Bureau said that it will also send this list of native forest plants suitable for horticulture and landscape to the Public Construction Commission of the Executive Yuan and the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior to supplement the list of common native plants in the planting manual for public works to serve as guidelines for planning and design of public planting. The list will also be sent to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Education, Tourism Bureau, as well as county and city governments, and other government agencies that are often engaged in planting projects, to serve as a reference for contracted landscape construction projects. Civil construction projects are also welcome to adopt the list.
Home
Taiwan High Speed Rail