To meet the recreational and educational needs of our citizens, the Forestry Bureau started the forest recreational business in 1965. Following the nature of resources available in different regions, 18 Forest Recreation Areas are renovated and open to the public for recreational purpose. From the tropical monsoon forest in Kenting to the temperate Pseudosasa plantation on Hehuanshan and from the small and gorgeous Liyu Lake of Chihnan to the vast and boundless Mien Nao (Taipingshan), these Parks are unique in their own rights, offering various relaxing excursions of quality with refreshing mountains and forests for our citizens to explore yet another aspect of the gorgeous Taiwan.

In order to utilize the plain reforestation born from Taiwan’s agricultural transformation, expand the recreational space for citizens, and initiate sustainable development for local industries, the Forestry Bureau established 3 Flatland Forest Parks in succession: Danongdafu Flatland Forest Park with organic rice farming and rift valley landscape in Hualien, Aogu Wetlands Forest Park with an international-level birdwatching paradise in Dongshih, Chiayi, and Linhousilin Forest Park that coexists with low-altitude farms in Pingtung. Flatland Forest Park is close to people’s lives. It is not only an excellent destination for excursion, but a splendid window of humans and nature living in harmony that combines with the industries of local communities to allow people to appreciate an industrial landscape of “Life, Production, and Ecosystem” and serves the functions of recreation and environmental education.

The hundred years of forestry history is an important legacy of Taiwan. For the protection of these valuable stories of forestry, Forestry Culture Park utilizes the existing forestry culture space to engage in ‘Preserve, Restore, Reuse” activities, so as to revitalize the historical memories. Through interactive collaboration with the local, community awareness is formed and multiple cultural venues with functions of education, leisure, and creative industry are available to foster a community aesthetics integrated with local environment as well as culture, forest ecological park, and historical architectures. At present, there are 4 Forestry Parks: “Dongshih”, “Luodong”, “Hualien” and “Alishan Forestry Village and Hinoki Village” with historical backgrounds and recreational features of their own.

What is your picture toward “trail”? There are countless historical stories and cultural traces as well as natural sceneries in the vast forests of Taiwan. To provide premium recreational resources and bridge the gap between the citizens and the forests, the Forestry Bureau laid out the “National Trail System” with the existing trails. Do you want to get close to the mountains and yet do not know where to begin with? Are you wondering where to go during weekends and holidays? Let us check the National Trail System and find a mountain of your own!

Upholding the principle of “creating a happy learning environment amidst the authentic forest”, the Forestry Bureau selected 8 existing parks to be renovated as Nature Centers, offering quality spaces for citizens to get close to and cherish forests and to practice conservation actions. Through the medium of Nature Center, you can easily appreciate the mystery of Him and connect to Nature in the best classroom, “Forest”. Conservation, education, research, culture, and recreation are combined together with diverse programs and local specialties so that you can witness the learning paradigm of sustainable forestry and environmental ethics while enjoying an intellectual time to the fullest in the forest.

In order to promote nature conservation and action, we develop the system of Ecocenter as the window for the pubic to learn about the natural environment and reserves in Taiwan, while serving as the action platform for local conservation works. In the adjacent areas of reserves, 9 Ecocenters are established with the emphasis on the natural ecology as well as conservation of the neighboring reserves. Visitors may learn about the protected areas in Taiwan and how precious and vulnerable biodiversity is through presentations, tours, and conservation education activities, and adopt practical eco-friendly actions in the respective lives as such.