The forest and nature conservation police unit under the National Police Agency pointed out that every time a typhoon brings heavy rain to Taiwan’s mountainous areas, large amounts of driftwood are brought down by the flood water to lower elevations, where it accumulates in riverbeds.

Wood lovers might be tempted to pick up some of the driftwood for various purposes, but according to Article 15 of the Forest Law, they should wait for one month during which a local government with jurisdiction over the driftwood should dispose of all large logs and useful wood as state property, according to the officers.

They said the public should wait until their local governments put out formal announcements that a certain driftwood site has been cleared and that the leftover debris is up for grabs.

According to the law, a person illegally collecting driftwood is liable to a fine of NT$15,000. The offender could also face a sentence of up to five years in prison if a motor vehicle is used to transport the driftwood.

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