TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The interior minister announced on Monday (Jan. 6) that the government has drafted amendments to the "National Park Law" (國家公園法) to increase penalties for prohibited activities. Since the law was enacted on June 13, 1972, many have criticized the current penalties as too lenient. The Internal Administration Committee (立法院內政委員會) under the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, is reviewing proposals to raise the severity of penalties.
Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) emphasized the importance of revising the law to preserve national resources, noting that unauthorized mountain climbers during typhoons have strained rescue resources. Liu stated that the ministry will explore increasing penalties to prevent the waste of national resources. The National Park Service (國家公園署) was upgraded in September 2023, and Liu mentioned ongoing legal revisions to maintain penalties for significant violations.
Taiwan's national park system includes nine national parks and one national nature park, integrating 59 key wetlands and coastal areas into a conservation network. Liu highlighted that a comprehensive review of various disorderly behaviors has been conducted, with plans to implement more thorough regulations. The government will proceed with notification procedures and follow legislative processes for these amendments.