Driftwood from Typhoon Haikui not yet up for grabs
Driftwood from Typhoon Haikui not yet up for grabs
2023-09-08
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency is reminding the public that collecting driftwood caused by Typhoon Haikui is not yet allowed. Many coastal areas around Taiwan are currently covered in tree branches and other debris that washed down from the mountains amid heavy rains. For now, taking any of the wood home is illegal as the government inspects the debris. Collection will eventually be allowed. But when it is, be sure to refrain from collecting any pieces that the government has marked, as doing so is punishable with up to seven years in prison and up to NT$20 million in fines.
Driftwood as far as the eye can see covers this beach. Seen from above, you can get a grasp on just how much wood has been heaped on the shoreline. All of this are trees and branches washed down from the mountains by Typhoon Haikui.
Excavators have been dispatched to take care of the debris. People have also headed to the beach to collect wood, be it on their own, with pets or with the whole family squad. But a government official warns that picking up this driftwood is currently illegal.
Yu Lan-chun
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
Before the relevant announcements are made, collecting the wood could be considered a criminal offense.
There is a vast amount of driftwood at Huaren Beach in Hualien’s Ji’an Township, including pieces of highly aromatic cypress trees and other valuable timber. But since the government is not yet allowing its collection, people who take any of it away would be breaking the law.
Some pieces are marked in red, indicating that they are property of the government. They’ll eventually be taken away to be sold in auctions. None of the marked pieces can be taken away, even after collection is allowed.
Yu Lan-chun
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
Taking pieces that have been marked is very likely to be in violation of Articles 50 and 52 of the Forestry Act. It is punishable with up to seven years in prison and fines of up to NT$20 million.
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says any pieces of unmarked wood can be taken away freely once collection is allowed. But collectors who want to sell the wood will need to obtain a permit and register online. If you’re itching to get your hands on some of the driftwood, make sure you are following the rules to not get in legal trouble.
花蓮大量漂流木堆積在海灘 若撿走恐涉侵占罪
2023-09-08
海葵颱風走後，花蓮海邊出現大量漂流木，由於有許多是珍貴林木，吸引不少民眾撿拾。林保署花蓮分署表示目前還在清查階段，會先將珍貴林木進行噴漆做記號，等到完成後才會開放撿拾，如果民眾在非公告撿拾時間，取走漂流木，小心吃上"侵占罪"。
大量漂流木，堆積在海灘上，大大小小密密麻麻，從空中往下看，整條海際線都是漂流木，數量龐大。這些都是海葵颱風，從山中沖刷下來的。
相關單位找來小山貓、怪手處理漂流木，不過也有不少民眾趁機跑來撿，有單槍匹馬的、有帶寵物的、也有全家總動員的，但政府還沒開放撿拾，小心觸法。
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“你在非公告撿拾的時間，進去撿拾的話，應該是會成立，就是刑法上的侵占罪”
大量漂流木出現在花蓮吉安的化仁海堤，其中包括香氣十足的檜木及珍貴林木。由於目前尚未開放撿拾漂流木，擅自撿走，涉嫌侵占罪。
在特定木頭噴紅漆做記號，這些都是國有財產，等著載走標售。就算開放，這些也不能撿。
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“刻意去撿拾有註記的，那這個部分，就很大的機會會成立，違反森林法第50跟52條，罰則的話，就7年以下的有期徒刑，然後併科2000萬元以下”
林保署表示，如果是在開放時間及區域內，撿拾未註記的漂流木，自用可直接帶走，但如要販賣，除了要取得合法撿拾證明外，也得上網登記。因此提醒，看到漂流木，別以為沒人要可以撿，小心觸法。
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