On Feb. 26, Tanayiku Natural Ecology Park in central Taiwan’s Alishan Mountains welcomed visitors for the first time since August 2009 when Typhoon Morakot, the worst tropical storm to hit the island in half a century, ripped through the facility leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The opening represents a strong bounceback for Taiwan’s first community-based ecotourism operation, which is owned and operated by Tsou aboriginals living in nearby Saviki Village. More than 2,000 visitors thronged the park during its first three days of operation, enjoying traditional musical performances, guided tours and an indigenous handicraft exhibition.
Although it is difficult to tell today, the destructive power of Morakot left Tanayiku a fully fledged disaster zone. Stunning cliff and river valley scenery was transformed into a landscape dominated by massive boulders, hills of sediment, giant mudslides and gouged-out runoff channels. It took 557 days of Tsou and ROC government-organized reconstruction efforts to get the area back in a condition approaching its former state.
In addition to clearing the park of dirt and debris, restoration projects included demolishing unsafe structures, constructing typhoon-resistant buildings, replanting indigenous species of flora and reintroducing the area’s famed Taiwanese ku fish. Once found throughout Tanayiku’s watercourses, the fish largely vanished from its habitat following Morakot, but is now staging a comeback courtesy of a large-scale restocking program.
Getting the lives of all citizens affected by the typhoon back on track has been no simple task. The needs of affected communities are many and cannot be addressed overnight. But through listening to local opinions, and conducting comprehensive impact assessments, the government is ensuring appropriate levels of support are delivered where needed most.
Tanayiku is a shining example of this commitment and demonstrates how post-disaster reconstruction involves more than just building homes. For the Tsou, sustainable employment is the lifeblood of their community. It plays an integral part in keeping the specter of economic hardship at bay while enabling the aboriginal group to maintain cultural distinctiveness and devote greater resources to preserving valuable traditions.
The fact that the park is up and running again is testament to the determination and will of the Tsou, and speaks volumes on the effectiveness of public and private sector programs aimed at getting all parts of Taiwanese society back on their feet post-Morakot. In meeting this tough challenge head-on, the ROC government is sending a clear message that the rebirth and ongoing rehabilitation of Tanayiku Natural Ecology Park is the norm when it comes to nationally coordinated reconstruction efforts, not the exception.
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