Mountain Dialogue: Learning from Switzerland – New Chapter for Taiwan-Switzerland Ecology and Railways Under Extreme Climate
Lin Hua-ching, Director-General of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (Agency), Ministry of Agriculture, led a delegation to officially sign a sister railway agreement with Switzerland's Rhaetian Railway (RhB), opening a new chapter in international cooperation for the Alishan Forest Railway. Lin noted that while Taiwan and Switzerland have different ecosystems and geological features, both face the impacts of extreme climate. This collaboration will promote bilateral railway tourism, joint marketing, and cross-border travel products, showcasing the dynamic preservation value of the Alishan Forest Railway.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 09:05
- 🔍 Collected: June 4, 2026 at 09:19 (14 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 16:19 (55h 0m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, correspondent Guo Fang-jun, Zurich, 4th) Lin Hua-ching, Director-General of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (Agency), Ministry of Agriculture, led a delegation to officially sign a sister railway agreement with Switzerland's Rhaetian Railway (Rhätische Bahn, RhB), adding a new chapter to the international cooperation of Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway. In an interview, Lin stated that the two countries can develop their respective characteristics and cooperate in areas such as national land conservation, climate change, transportation infrastructure, and tourism.
In an exclusive interview with CNA, Lin pointed out that Taiwan and Switzerland both possess highly distinctive natural landscapes, but significant differences in climate, geology, and topography have resulted in different ecosystems.
Although Taiwan has a limited land area, its significant altitudinal gradient encompasses multiple climate zones, including tropical, subtropical, and temperate, resulting in highly rich vegetation and species diversity. In contrast, Switzerland, located in the temperate zone, has a stable and well-preserved forest environment but relatively lower biodiversity. The two countries have distinctly different ecological characteristics.
He emphasized that frequent typhoons and earthquakes are major features of Taiwan's climate, geology, and topography. Compared to Switzerland's stable geology, Taiwan is a geologically young island. Despite these geological differences, both regions are currently facing the impact of extreme climate, with the frequency and intensity of natural disasters having increased significantly in recent years.
Overall, he believes that the Swiss government and people are committed to environmental protection, presenting the beautiful scenery that visitors see, where one can immediately feel the clean air and water. This is one of the notable differences between the two countries.
He also pointed out that a key reason for the high development of Swiss alpine regions as tourist attractions is the convenience of the transportation network, such as the development of cable cars, roads, and railways. In contrast, in Taiwan, earthquakes and typhoons are two forces that shape the terrain, constantly changing the landscape. Due to the fragile and sensitive geology, it is difficult to develop a widespread railway and road network in mountainous areas.
The people of Taiwan are also aware that mountain railways and roads are often damaged and disrupted after natural disasters. In a sensitive natural environment, the development of large-scale transportation facilities must be approached with greater caution to minimize environmental impact and protect natural ecology.
Regarding the establishment of this railway partnership, Lin emphasized that through in-depth cooperation with the Rhaetian Railway, the Alishan Forest Railway will continue to showcase the beauty of dynamic railway preservation to the world with a more international perspective. This is expected not only to promote deeper bilateral tourism reciprocity but also to allow this precious century-old Alishan Forest Railway to walk alongside world heritage railways, transforming historical memory into a driving force for modern tourism. It aims to promote railway tourism development with Swiss partners and engage in closer cooperation in areas such as joint marketing and cross-border travel products. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150604
In an exclusive interview with CNA, Lin pointed out that Taiwan and Switzerland both possess highly distinctive natural landscapes, but significant differences in climate, geology, and topography have resulted in different ecosystems.
Although Taiwan has a limited land area, its significant altitudinal gradient encompasses multiple climate zones, including tropical, subtropical, and temperate, resulting in highly rich vegetation and species diversity. In contrast, Switzerland, located in the temperate zone, has a stable and well-preserved forest environment but relatively lower biodiversity. The two countries have distinctly different ecological characteristics.
He emphasized that frequent typhoons and earthquakes are major features of Taiwan's climate, geology, and topography. Compared to Switzerland's stable geology, Taiwan is a geologically young island. Despite these geological differences, both regions are currently facing the impact of extreme climate, with the frequency and intensity of natural disasters having increased significantly in recent years.
Overall, he believes that the Swiss government and people are committed to environmental protection, presenting the beautiful scenery that visitors see, where one can immediately feel the clean air and water. This is one of the notable differences between the two countries.
He also pointed out that a key reason for the high development of Swiss alpine regions as tourist attractions is the convenience of the transportation network, such as the development of cable cars, roads, and railways. In contrast, in Taiwan, earthquakes and typhoons are two forces that shape the terrain, constantly changing the landscape. Due to the fragile and sensitive geology, it is difficult to develop a widespread railway and road network in mountainous areas.
The people of Taiwan are also aware that mountain railways and roads are often damaged and disrupted after natural disasters. In a sensitive natural environment, the development of large-scale transportation facilities must be approached with greater caution to minimize environmental impact and protect natural ecology.
Regarding the establishment of this railway partnership, Lin emphasized that through in-depth cooperation with the Rhaetian Railway, the Alishan Forest Railway will continue to showcase the beauty of dynamic railway preservation to the world with a more international perspective. This is expected not only to promote deeper bilateral tourism reciprocity but also to allow this precious century-old Alishan Forest Railway to walk alongside world heritage railways, transforming historical memory into a driving force for modern tourism. It aims to promote railway tourism development with Swiss partners and engage in closer cooperation in areas such as joint marketing and cross-border travel products. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150604