Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
Update Date: 2008/09/05 11:31 Reporter: Lai Youlin / Xu Wanzhen
Just after the Lunar July release tide, reports have emerged from various places about a sudden surge of "invasive species" wreaking havoc in parks, causing damage to local ecosystems. Research from the Taiwan Animal Society Research Room shows that nearly 500 temples or groups across Taiwan release over 200 million species annually! The Forestry Bureau stated that abandoning animals leading to ecological harm can result in fines of up to 1.5 million.
The Forestry Bureau indicated that according to the Animal Protection Act, abandoning animals that may lead to ecological destruction can result in fines ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$100,000; if it involves protected species that may lead to ecosystem destruction, fines range from NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million.
Chen Yumin, Director of the Taiwan Animal Society Research Room, further suggested that the law should be amended to include "procedural review," meaning that future releases should be pre-evaluated by a specific committee. The Life Conservationist Association also recommended that the government should intervene in management. For example, the government's animal conservation authority should negotiate with religious departments to seek alternatives to animal release.
Currently, invasive species that pose a serious threat to Taiwan's ecology include animals such as the Brazilian turtle, bullfrog, American crayfish, tilapia, apple snail, and red fire ant, and plants such as water hyacinth and mile-a-minute weed. Among these, water hyacinth was introduced so early (during the Japanese colonial period) that many people mistakenly believe it to be a native Taiwanese species.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 080905/ 115/ 15e1i. html
Releasing Animals Harms Ecology: Forestry Bureau Warns of Heavy Fines
Just after the Lunar July release tide, reports have emerged from various places about a sudden surge of "invasive species" wreaking havoc in parks, causing damage to local ecosystems. Research from the Taiwan Animal Society Research Room shows that nearly 500 temples or groups across Taiwan release over 200 million species annually! The Forestry Bureau stated that abandoning animals leading to ecological harm can result in fines of up to 1.5 million.
The Forestry Bureau indicated that according to the Animal Protection Act, abandoning animals that may lead to ecological destruction can result in fines ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$100,000; if it involves protected species that may lead to ecosystem destruction, fines range from NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million.
Chen Yumin, Director of the Taiwan Animal Society Research Room, further suggested that the law should be amended to include "procedural review," meaning that future releases should be pre-evaluated by a specific committee. The Life Conservationist Association also recommended that the government should intervene in management. For example, the government's animal conservation authority should negotiate with religious departments to seek alternatives to animal release.
Currently, invasive species that pose a serious threat to Taiwan's ecology include animals such as the Brazilian turtle, bullfrog, American crayfish, tilapia, apple snail, and red fire ant, and plants such as water hyacinth and mile-a-minute weed. Among these, water hyacinth was introduced so early (during the Japanese colonial period) that many people mistakenly believe it to be a native Taiwanese species.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 080905/ 115/ 15e1i. html