Hualien's Oldest Protection Forest Gets a Name: 'Meilun Mountain Protection Forest' Protects Taiwan Fruit Bats

(Central News Agency, Hualien, 31st) The forest surrounding Meilun Mountain Park in Hualien City is the earliest established protection forest in Hualien and an important witness to the protection forest system in Taiwan that has been in use since the Japanese colonial period. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Hualien Branch held a naming event with over 2,000 votes, and "Meilun Mountain Protection Forest" was selected. The Hualien Branch stated that to make the name closer to local sentiment and historical memory, they held a naming event for "Scenic Protection Forest No. 2601." The three-stage process involved collecting historical data, interviewing residents for local memories, and finally opening three candidate names—"Baluo Mountain," "Milun Mountain," and "Meilun Mountain"—to a public vote. During the event, the team visited communities and elementary schools in Hualien to promote environmental education. The Hualien Branch noted that the event attracted over 2,000 participants, and "Meilun Mountain Protection Forest" received the most votes, becoming the official name and transforming the forest from a cold number into a symbol of local identity. Hualien Branch Director Huang Qunce stated that Meilun Mountain Protection Forest is not only a landmark but also the only breeding habitat for the endangered "Taiwan fruit bat" on the main island of Taiwan. Research shows that these bats primarily inhabit the area around the forest and feed on fruits like those from the Taiwan ebony and Indian almond trees. Recent surveys have successfully recorded four pairs of fruit bats breeding in the Hualien area, indicating a stable population. Huang pointed out that besides its functions in wind protection, soil conservation, and environmental safety, the forest is a vital base for the Taiwan fruit bat, protecting both the residents' living environment and Taiwan's unique biodiversity.