More than 1000 hectares light power plant strikes Fenglin's forest : Losing forests, carbon sinks, and indigenous reservations

"Shovels and excavators went in, and large trucks came out carrying pieces of logs, some as thick as 30 centimeters in diameter, which were taken away in truckloads. It was heartbreaking to see an entire beautiful forest cut down." This was the scene of "cutting trees to grow electricity" witnessed by nearby residents during the construction of a photovoltaic power plant in Fenglin Township, Hualien last year.

In fact, this huge site with an area of 66 hectares, equivalent to 2.5 Daan Forest Parks, is just the prelude to large-scale photovoltaic development in the area.

According to statistics, there are more than 30 photovoltaic applications in Fenglin, covering an area of 1,701 hectares. Residents are worried that if the installation is approved in the future, it will impact tourism, and cutting down trees for electricity will destroy precious "carbon sinks." Taiwan Sugar Corp.'s release of "flatland afforestation" to convert to photovoltaics and energy companies' plundering of indigenous reservations have also raised questions.

How can we strike a balance between clean energy, forests, and the rights of residents? This investigation into Fenglin reveals the crisis of climate injustice under the central government's push for photovoltaic power.

The College of Environment at National Dong Hwa University(NDHU) applied for a fund from National Science and Technology Council(NSTC) and began a three-year ground-based photovoltaic research project last year, encompassing ecological and environmental surveys and socioeconomic impacts. Professor I-Fang Sun of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, who participated in the research, explained that the team began by examining the impacts of photovoltaic facilities on the habitats of various plants and animals at a large "landscape scale." "These habitats are interconnected and provide important ecosystem services to residents."

He explained that the team has set up seed traps in the forests surrounding the Shengfeng Photovoltaic Power Plant, which is now in-operation, to monitor whether plant growth is affected by photovoltaics; as for animals, they use automatic cameras to observe mammals and reptiles, and use soundscape recorders to analyze the sounds of birds such as ring-necked pheasants.

Professor Sun emphasized, "We will also understand the impact of photovoltaics on society and the economy. Taking all three into account(including ecology), we hope to obtain a comprehensive assessment and propose a better photovoltaic deployment model for the government's reference."

I-Fang Sun, professor of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at NDHU, suggested that Fenglin Photovoltaic must implement total quantity control.

United Daily News:

More than 1000 hectares light power plant strikes Fenglin's forest : Losing forests, carbon sinks, and indigenous reservations

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