Forestry Bureau Republishes Historical Forest Records, Revealing Taiwan's Forest Landscape a Century Ago

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei, June 15) The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture has republished historical forest planning records from the Japanese colonial era, launching the 'Forest Map Collection' and 'Forest Survey Report' today at a press event, unveiling for the first time the mysterious landscape of Formosa's forests a century ago.

In a press release, the Agency stated that it has been actively cataloging and preserving Taiwan's forestry historical materials in recent years, restoring and reorganizing rare archival documents. In 2025, it will launch the special exhibition '0km: Revisiting the Mountain Forest Class,' and this publication compiles key outcomes from the 1925 forest survey conducted by the Forestry Division of the Japanese Governor-General's Office. The records comprehensively document local forest types, geology, vegetation, and land use, marking the beginning of modern, scientific forestry in Taiwan and laying a foundational basis for forest governance.

The Agency explained that the new publications were produced in collaboration with Associate Professor Hung Kuang-chi of National Taiwan University and the Nantian Book Company team, after seven years of meticulous research on the 'Historical Survey Records of Forest Planning Zones During the Japanese Colonial Period.' This marks the first full facsimile publication of these rare forestry archives, which had been sealed for nearly a century, revealing the ecological secrets of Formosan forests from 100 years ago.

Agency Director Lin Hua-ching stated that Taiwan's forestry sector has undergone a century of transformation. These century-spanning survey records remind us of the enduring interdependence between humans and forests. He expressed hope that by making these historical materials publicly accessible and sharing knowledge, more people will come to understand Taiwan's forests and join in safeguarding the future of its mountain landscapes for the next hundred years.

The 'Historical Survey Records of Forest Planning Zones During the Japanese Colonial Period' include over 200 rare maps, with the Map Collection weighing 17 kilograms and the Survey Report 8 kilograms. To perfectly replicate the original documents, the production team employed meticulous hand-drawing, precise mounting techniques, and selected premium paper and advanced printing technology. Each set is priced at NT$70,000 and is available for researchers and collectors at the National Bookstore and Wu-Nan Book Company.

The Agency will also provide complete sets to major libraries, including the National Library, Legislative Yuan Library, National Taiwan Library, National Public Information Library, National Taiwan University Library, Dong Hwa University Library, and central libraries of all county and city public library systems, for permanent archival. The Agency is currently evaluating the possibility of producing an electronic version of the collection. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150615