（Taiwan Today）Pingtung County magistrate seeks advice on Alangyi Ancient Trail
Publication Date：11/23/2011
Source： Taiwan Today
Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung met with several environmentalists Nov. 22 in Taipei to discuss ways of protecting the historic Alangyi Ancient Trail from overdevelopment.
The 8.8-kilometer trial, which straddles Taitung and Pingtung counties in southeastern Taiwan, has been called “the nation’s last remaining stretch of natural coastline.”
Its existence, however, is threatened by a proposed coastal highway that could bring a large influx of tourists and motorists to the remote scenic area.
To learn more on what the local government could do to preserve Alangyi, Tsao consulted with several scholars and activists attending the 10th Asia-Pacific NGO Environmental Conference in Taipei.
Noting that a majority of Pingtung residents are in favor of the proposed highway, Tsao said, “We need to find a way to balance environmental protection and regional development.”
“The beautiful natural scenery of this area is also its most precious asset,” he added.
Yayoi Isono of the Japan Environmental Council told Tsao that improving dialogue between residents, environmental NGOs and government is the key to resolving difficult environmental issues.
Ben Smith, manager of the Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong, said many similar cases of clashes between environment and development projects took place in Hong Kong.
But, he said, it is always worth it to make the effort to preserve unique landscapes by trying hard to come up with alternatives.
The road project in question passed the required Environmental Impact Assessment review in December 2010. But the Pingtung County Government designated the area that the road would pass through an interim nature reserve, which temporary putting off the start of construction until after Jan. 31, 2012.
At present a maximum of 300 people per day are allowed visit the trail. (PCT-HZW)
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