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The "land retirement programme" aims to convert farmland into forestry, to achieve island-wide reforestation. Between 2002 and 2013, more than 13,000 hectares of uncompetitive farmland was converted into forest. These forests have several functions such as timber production, carbon sequestration, clean air, and environmental protection.

Fishing has an important role in the economy, and Chinese Taipei has unique oceanographic traits and biodiversity. In 2012, fishing accounted for 0.7% of GDP and 3% of total employment. Fishery is an exporting sector, accounting for 0.7% of merchandise exports in 2012, equivalent to 29% of combined agriculture, fishing and forestry exports.

In order to avoid overfishing, the FA has been providing grants to fishermen to reduce their fishing capacities (Table 4.7). (…) In September 2002, the government introduced a reward system for closing the fishing season; according to the authorities, the number of fishing vessels participating in this programme has grown gradually, and totalled 9,830 in 2012. In order to improve the social security and welfare of fishermen, the government provides marine insurance subsidies for small-scale and artisanal fishing vessels weighing less than 100 tons.

The Fisheries Agency (FA) under the COA (Council of Agriculture) regulates the fishing sector. The core fishing policy is to maintain the sustainability of fishery resources, and to improve the livelihood and welfare of fishermen. (…)

(…) The fishing vessel and raft buy-back programme has been implemented since 1991; to date, the government has bought 3,272 vessels and 1,723 rafts. To reduce fishing capacity while protecting the environment and maintaining sustainable fishery resources, all vessels bought back under this programme are dismantled. (…)

Table 4.7 Subsidies to the fishing sector, 2009-12
(NT$ million)
Title: Fishing vessel buy-back programme: grants to fishing vessels depending on the tonnage, and to fishing rafts depending on the length of raft, the pipe diameter, and the power of main engine: 607.6 (2009); 118.2 (2010); 66.5 (2011); 86.8 (2012)

Title: Reward for closing fishery season: 159.2 (2009); 166.7 (2010); 171.8 (2011); 173.5 (2012)

Title: Fishing vessels marine insurance reward: grants provided to cover a portion of the insurance costs for fishing vessels if damaged at sea: 87.4 (2009); 103.7 (2010); 82.8 (2011); 45.4 (2012)

(…) In fisheries, grants are provided for programmes for buy-back of fishing vessels, reduction of fishing vessels, closing the fishery season, water-recirculation devices used in aquaculture, marine insurance for fishing vessels, and fish market (price) stabilization, as well as aquaculture facilities subsidized by loan programmes (section 4.1.1.4).

To control illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing, the government of TKPM has established various legal frameworks and measures, including: participating in the RFMOs (regional fisheries management organizations) and cooperating with member economies bilaterally; establishing a record of licensed fishing vessels (white list); requiring fishing vessels to implement a vessel monitoring system (VMS); requiring fishing vessels to report their catches either through VMS or by fax; implementing management measures on transhipment in the port or at sea; dispatching patrol vessels to conduct boarding and inspection; implementing the Observer Program and the Statistical Document and Catch Document Scheme; controlling fishing capacity of the fleet; allocating fishing quotas and limitations on the fishing area; and promulgating the National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing, in 2013, in response to the adoption of the FAO International Plan of Action on IUU.

Chinese Taipei has prohibited the logging of its natural forest since 1985. Most forest products are imported: average annual imports of forest products were around 6 million cubic meters between 2007 and 2011. Most imported wood products (106 of the 123 tariff lines) face zero tariffs, and the simple average tariff is 1.5%.

The Forestry Bureau under the COA regulates the development of forestry. The current forestry policy focuses on fostering the sustainability of the forestry industry, promoting production restructure, and extending the value chain of forestry production. Major policy tools include: encouraging the local governments to set up forestry production cooperatives to establish the supply chain through production to marketing of timber/bamboo products; and promoting research and development of new innovative product lines for manufacturers to use forestry products as raw materials. The authorities hope that, by improving the economic value of forestry, and encouraging the upgrading towards modern forestry enterprises, timber production will move from a primary industry to a higher quality secondary processing industry. The COA is also promoting forestry tourism and other tertiary industry, to improve the added value potential of forestry.