The Executive Yuan Council today approved a wetlands protection bill drafted by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and will send it to the Legislature for deliberation.
The bill provides a legal basis to strengthen wetland conservation programs which Taiwan has implemented over the years, according to Premier Sean Chen. Wetlands are often called the earth's lungs or kidneys because they play an important role in regulating the environment and provide a home to a wide range of plants and animals. The Ramsar Convention was inked in 1971 to regulate the use of wetlands and their natural resources worldwide. "Taiwan's enactment of this bill will advance the Ramsar Convention's principles of conservation and wise use, bringing Taiwan in line with international trends," he said.
The premier stated the bill is high on the Executive Yuan's agenda and instructed the MOI to work with lawmakers to fast-track its review procedures.
As Taiwan has had neither a comprehensive, systematic management system nor a widespread wetland conservation mentality, unregulated resource usage has led to a rapid loss of wetlands and severely damaged these ecosystems, according to the MOI.
Taiwan's wetlands protection bill draws inspiration from the Ramsar Convention and wetlands conservation laws and management systems of South Korea, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom. Here are the major points of the bill:
1. Transparent procedures are prescribed to evaluate, modify and revoke prime wetlands status. Prime wetlands will be sub-classified as international, national, or local grade based on importance, and conservation plans will be drafted for each level. If regulations may prevent indigenous people from using their lands and resources, the indigenous must be consulted and give their consent beforehand. (Article 7)
2. The prescribed procedures to evaluate, modify and revoke prime wetlands shall be announced to the public. (Article 8 to 11)
3. Prime wetlands shall be divided into regions based on function; development and construction are prohibited within protected wetlands. (Article 15)
4. Land and resource development involving protected prime wetlands shall require the approval of the Cabinet-level competent agency. (Article 19)
5. The government may expropriate or appropriate land within prime wetlands according to prescribed legal procedures. Prime wetland conservation program managers should charge for usage of the land, return a required ratio of revenues from it and abide by operating guidelines set up by the authority. (Articles 21 and 22)
6. If land owners, operators, users or related parties sustain losses because the authority needs to conduct a resource survey, temporarily ban or limit use of prime wetlands or repurpose them for wiser use, the former shall receive reasonable compensation. (Article 23)
7. Guidelines on establishing and managing a wetlands logo and wetlands funds are instituted. (Article 31 to 33)