New lease of life: Pingtung County designates Alangyi Trail as “Natural Reserve”

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3127 Edition

January 30~February 5, 2012

Headline News

New lease of life: Pingtung County designates Alangyi Trail as “Natural Reserve”

Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan

Written by Lydia Ma

People concerned about the preservation of Alangyi Trail, the remaining 1% of 
natural coastline in Taiwan, got a great gift on the eve of Lunar New Year when 
Pingtung County announced on January 20, 2012 that the trail had been 
designated as a nature reserve after much deliberation.

Alangyi Ancient Trail, a 735.86 hectare strip of land from Hsuhai to Guanyin 
Cape, was on the verge of destruction in 2011 when news broke that construction 
of a coastal highway (Provincial Highway No. 26) linking Taitung County and 
Pingtung County would overlap with the trail.

The latest designation will henceforth protect Alangyi Trail and its flora and 
fauna and prevent Highway No.26 from traversing it. Concerning this 
much-anticipated decision, PCT Associate General Secretary Lyim Hong-tiong said 
that preserving the trail was the right decision and added that good planning 
and improved facilities would go a long way in attracting tourists and 
generating income for locals in the area. He said this in response to many 
locals who had hoped that the highway would be built so that the area could be 
developed and in turn generate some income for them. 

Lyim, along with 60 other PCT pastors and members had trekked the trail and 
hosted a prayer meeting there on September 10, 2011. The prayer meeting was 
part of a PCT prayer movement launched in the past year called “Lift Up My Eyes 
to the Hills”. The prayer movement’s themes include repentance, evangelism, 
nuclear-free homeland, social justice, and environmental justice.

Lyim said that Alangyi Trail is ecologically and culturally priceless and hoped 
that it would be preserved for future generations to enjoy. He also suggested 
that local churches across Taiwan take their congregations there for an 
ecological exposure tour. “You won’t understand how precious it is if you just 
hear people talk about it. Once you’ve been there, you’ll understand its 
worth,” he said, adding that a trip to Alangyi will be good for the body and 
the soul.

In a show of support for Alangyi Trail, representatives from more than 23 
environmental and art groups congregated outside Pingtung County Hall to await 
the final decision. Many citizens who supported the preservation of Alangyi 
Trail were also present. Similarly, those who supported the building of Highway 
26 were also there because they also had a stake in the outcome.

After Pingtung County had finished deliberations, Deputy Magistrate Chung 
Chia-pin held a press conference to announce the final decision. He said the 
County had found after much consultation that the area from Hsuhai to Guanyin 
Cape qualified as a nature reserve. The total area of the reserve that would be 
protected, including the shoreline, was 841.30 hectares. Henceforth, Alangyi 
Trail will be protected in accordance to clauses 84 and 85 of the Cultural 
Heritage Conservation Law.

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