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Updated Sunday, August 30, 2009 11:04 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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Long-term environmental solutions hard but necessary

In order for the resettlement to be successful, the government and the residents must engage each other in true dialogue.

Apart from clearly telling people the risk of continuing living in dangerous areas, the government must understand the people's needs.

A responsible government must work out acceptable solutions rather than force residents to accept a way of life that they do not want.

But concessions from both sides will be necessary in order to work out feasible solutions.

At the same time, the government must stop over-development in mountainous areas.

In such scenic areas as Hohuan Mountain, “guest houses” have sprouted offering accommodation to tourists. The impact of tourism on the environment in these areas has been tremendous, and any of them could become another Siaolin.

Farming on mountains is another problem. Clearing trees for farming has contributed to mudslides.

New laws need to be made to implement necessary changes, and that may be pose another strong challenge for the government.

Partisan politics plays a prominent role in Taiwan, which has often seen political camps clash with one another because of ideological differences at the expense of the country's development.

Apart from political bickering, the government may also see challenges from different groups seeking their own interests in the process of reconstruction.

Politicians in Taiwan often bow to pressure easily and give up the chances of doing the right things in order to please their voters.

In the case of the post-Morakot reconstruction, the government will be tempted to quickly rebuild damaged homes at their original sites without conducting long-term planning.

Such quick fixes may satisfy the residents for the time being, and win their support for the ruling party.

But that is not what Taiwan and its residents really need. They need long-term solutions to prevent a repeat of the disasters.

The government must strike a balance between what the people need and what the country can offer in the process of reconstruction.

It will be a long and arduous process, but the government must start doing it now.

Taiwan cannot afford to spend billions on rescue and relief efforts every time a typhoon hits, and its people cannot afford to lose more of their loved ones to natural disasters.

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