According to village elders, parents with weak children visit special trees in the hopes of miracles. Not so long ago, plants and animals co-existed harmoniously with Mother Nature. Blessed with an unlimited supply of fresh air, pure water, and radiant sunshine, a splendid array of species once adorned the landscape. But rapid industrialization, and the ensuing population explosion, has changed all that. Our natural resources have been depleted and we leave an incomplete legacy to our children.
Trees are prime victims.
As economic development spread from cities to small towns in Taiwan, developers toppled forests and stripped the land of lush growth. At the height of development, environmental protection was considered a last priority and unchecked deforestation was standard. Fortunately, this trend has changed. Sustainable, managed economic growth has replaced the growth at all cost mentality. People now recognize the importance of environmental preservation, especially the protection of old growth trees, and they have pressured the government to act accordingly.