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Deforestation in Taiwan is the changes on the forested area in the island due to economy factors, such as agriculture, urban expansion etc. In 1904–2015, Taiwan has a net annual forest area change rate of 34 km2.[1]
The major changes in forest area of Taiwan are divided into several periods.
The earliest documented period was the first period in 1904–1950, roughly coincided with the later stage of Japanese rule in Taiwan. In 1926, 64% of Taiwan's land was covered in forest. However, many new agricultural land were created in western lowland of Taiwan.[2]
The second period which in 1956–1993, which coincided with the early era of Kuomintang government, saw a sharp increase in built-up area where it consumed forest areas around major big cities and towns.[1] In 1989, the government issued a ban on the logging of primeval forests.[2]
The third period in 1995–2015, saw major afforestation made and forested land reached its peak at 67% in 2010. Most of the afforestation were made on former agricultural land.[1] Since 2008, companies, individuals and government bodies have jointly planted more than 230 km2 of trees.[2] Following this period the primary challenge facing forests in Taiwan is illegal logging.[3] Illegal logging dropped 80% from 2015 to 2025, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency primarily credits this to efforts made in the involvement of tribes in legal and sustainable forest based economic activities. [4]
