Yangmingshan Authority Guides Farmers in Pesticide Reduction, Conservation-Listed Red-Bellied Water Snake Returns to Bamboo Lake

(Taipei, June 14 — Reporter Kao Hua-chien) Calla lily and hydrangea season is currently in full swing at Yangmingshan. The National Park Service announced today that the Yangmingshan National Park Administration has long promoted a friendly agriculture guidance program, implementing pesticide reduction in flower cultivation. Fifty-one farmers have joined the initiative, and eight have successfully grown calla lilies 'without using any pesticides or chemical fertilizers,' allowing the environmentally sensitive protected species, the 'red-bellied water snake,' to return to Bamboo Lake.

According to information from the Yangmingshan National Park Administration's website, the non-venomous 'red-bellied water snake,' also known as the half-striped snake or red pig mother, is endangered. It feeds on frogs, tadpoles, loaches, and fish, with a maximum total length of up to 100 centimeters. Its distinguishing feature is its bright red ventral surface.

The Ministry of the Interior's National Park Service stated in a press release today that Bamboo Lake in Yangmingshan National Park has long been renowned for ornamental flowers such as calla lilies and hydrangeas. However, the long-term accumulation of pesticide use has indirectly impacted farmland ecosystems and the habitats of certain species.

The National Park Service noted that since 2019 (Minguo Year 108), the Yangmingshan Administration (Yangguan Chu) has collaborated with farmers, academic institutions, and civil groups to promote a friendly agriculture guidance program, guiding farmers to gradually reduce the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and herbicides while creating an agriculture-friendly environment for biodiversity. The transformation in Bamboo Lake's flower industry has been particularly evident. Currently, eight farmers have successfully achieved fully eco-friendly calla lily cultivation, all obtaining the Green Conservation Label. This not only maintains flower quality but also allows consumers to safely interact with flower fields and the natural environment.

The National Park Service added that hydrangeas, which have recently gained increasing popularity, are also making efforts toward reduced pesticide use. Through guidance and trials, the Administration has assisted farmers in adjusting suitable local varieties and improving cultivation management, reducing pest and disease incidence and pesticide demand, and gradually establishing a more environmentally friendly flower production model. Local farmers have shared that since changing their farming methods, the environment has slowly recovered, with frogs, insects, and birds reappearing in their fields, allowing them to once again feel the land's original vitality.

The National Park Service pointed out that the native Taiwanese freshwater snake, the 'red-bellied water snake,' previously saw population declines due to wetland loss and changes in agricultural environments. The Administration has partnered with academic teams to conduct red-bellied water snake surveys and habitat restoration, promoting improvements in paddy field environments, eco-friendly farming practices, and habitat creation. In recent years, as eco-friendly agriculture has expanded in scale and reach, farmland has gradually transformed into 'micro-wetlands' with ecological functions, enabling species like the red-bellied water snake to inhabit and reproduce in Bamboo Lake.

The National Park Service stated that with calla lily and hydrangea season currently underway at Yangmingshan, it invites the public to visit flower fields in Bamboo Lake displaying the Green Conservation Label to learn about eco-friendly farming stories. Going forward, the Yangmingshan Administration will continue to deepen friendly agriculture guidance, ecological habitat restoration, and local brand development, integrating corporate ESG initiatives, environmental education, and community participation to jointly create a sustainable environment that balances 'ecological conservation, agricultural development, and tourism recreation.' (Edited by Su Lung-chi) 1150614