After listening to the Council of Agriculture (COA)'s briefing today on its participation in the Second APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said that Taiwan should step up research on issues of concern to all APEC economies such as natural forest conservation, management of existing plantations and promotion of agroforestry on milder slopes.
The premier also urged the COA to review current measures for soil and water conservation as well as national land protection and to serve as an advocate for forest environmental education, promoting regional cooperation on this issue.
The Second APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry was held in Cusco, Peru August 14 to 16. The Taiwanese delegation was led by COA Minister Chen Bao-ji, Forestry Bureau Director-General Li Tao-sheng and Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Director-General Huang Yue-hsing.
At the meeting, the COA made a proposal to enhance forestry environmental education which won participants' support and was listed in the Cusco Statement released at its conclusion. Agency officials said the success of this proposal, which was based on Taiwan's success in this field, shows the ROC's strong will to participate in issues facing APEC economies.
"Minister Chen not only shared Taiwan's forestry management challenges and solutions with other APEC economies but also made a proposal for the enhancement of forest environmental education which was later included in the meeting's official statement," Jiang said.
"Moreover, he communicated with significant APEC nations on issues of international concern such as sustainable forest management and crackdowns on illegal logging, contributing to the strengthening of international cooperation on these issues."
In response to recent discussion about the relaxing of Taiwan's reservoir watershed regulations, Premier Jiang indicated that the issue is related to forest, soil and water conservation and commissioned the COA and Environmental Protection Administration to learn the key points of concerned groups' appeals so they can serve as a reference for policymaking. Related ministries were also asked to make any necessary adjustments to their policies in a timely fashion.