MOI, while national forests are under the jurisdiction of the COA. Overlaps
of administrative functions, as well as contradictions in conservation and
development goals, lead to serious problems of management. Major issues in
protected areas such as environmental protection, species conservation, eco-
tourism, and disaster alleviation fall under different governmental branches,
including the Bureau of Forestry in COA, the Bureau of Soil and Water
Conservation in COA, the Department of National Parks in the Construction
Administration of the MOI, the National Parks Department of the Tourism
Bureau of the Ministry of Communication, and the Forestry Department of the
Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen (VACRS).
A proposed resolution of these conflicts would be the establishment of a
new Ministry of Environment and Resources (MER). A new Administration of
Forestry and Natural Conservation within MER would be the protector of
conservation units, leaving COA as a development agency. Also, current
plans are to integrate forestry, national parks, eco-tourism, biodiversity
conservation, disaster management, and academic research into one single
governmental branch.^83
In Taiwan, which funds its PAs handsomely in comparison to China, the
recent budgets for natural conservation and protection have shrunk. Economic
development and tourism have become the major policy goals. For instance,
in the budget year 2001, research and planning expenditures for natural
conservation comprised just 0.02 percent of the total budget. In contrast,
expenditures for construction and engineering comprised 55 percent. When
compared to the year 2000 budget for parks, expenditures on conservation
(including personnel salaries) were 58 percent lower, but the construction
budget declined by only 7 percent.^84 Staff members responsible for
conservation and interpretation were among the first to be made redundant.
The purpose of establishing national parks is to preserve Taiwan’s unique
natural scenery, wild fauna, flora, and historic sites, and provide public
recreation and areas for scientific research.^85 Yet park officials, facing central
and local budget shortfalls, have had to become entrepreneurial. They have
developed new attractions to bring visitors to the parks (and this boost in
tourism would seem contradictory to the intent of policy). From 1995–2004,
visitors have more than doubled.^86 New construction in the parks for the
accommodation of tourists has made them look nearly urban and resulted in
degradation of the protected areas. Also, new man-made structures have
disturbed the lives of animals and plants residing within the parks.^87
The Proposed Magao National Park in Taiwan
Taiwan’s protected areas operate in a newly democratized culture, which is
especially apparent in the proposal to establish a new park in northern Taiwan.
Protected areas and biodiversity conservation 125