Yang-Yi Cheng stated that the Forest Protection Compensation Regulations can easily mislead the public, as compensation is granted as long as 70% of the land is designated as a “protected” area, which only requires a restriction on logging, or “limited logging.” The remaining 30% of the land can be used for low-impact environmental activities such as beekeeping, mushroom farming, or eco-tourism. He urged the government to take this issue seriously. Instead of offering blanket subsidies, it would be more effective to send staff to visit the sites, differentiate between those whose livelihoods depend on agricultural activities and large-scale commercial enterprises, and then guide land-use transformation through forest-based agriculture and afforestation incentives. This would help develop “understory economies” that do not harm forest ecosystems. He emphasized that relying solely on land and subsidies for financial gain will not ensure long-term success.
Source：CTWANT
