A recently published book, “The Zhuoshui River and its 300 Years of History,” is rekindling interest in Taiwan’s longest river and its impact on national development.
Author Chang Su-bing, who is also director of Graduate Institute of Taiwan History at Taipei City-based National Taiwan Norman University, said the Zhuoshui plays an important role in the country’s agricultural sector, spreading nutrient-rich sediment across its delta and serving as a source of irrigation water.
“But after years of flood control programs and afforestation projects, as well as fierce competition between the agricultural and industrial sectors for water resources, the river is now in state of distress,” she said.
Originating in Nantou County, the 187-kilometer river passes through Changhua, Chiayi and Yunlin counties before flowing into the Taiwan Strait. It is widely regarded as the unofficial boundary between northern and southern Taiwan.
According to Chang, there is no question the Zhuoshui has suffered from mismanagement over the years. “I aim to change this state of affairs by heightening public awareness of the river’s plight and providing a historical context for today’s environmental debates.”
The book was a labor of love for Chang and took 20 years to write. It highlights six key periods for the river, from frequent flooding during documented early settlement in Taiwan to Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945) and the development of major petrochemical projects in surrounding regions since the 1990s.
The final chapter of the book highlights key economic, environmental, political and social challenges facing the Zhuoshui in the 21st century.
“History has given us solutions to the problems we are encountering with the river today,” she said. “The onus is on those in power to come to grips with the situation and take action.” (SFC-JSM)
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