Mt. Chiu-Chiu restores to vegetation after 17 years rest / 17年休養生息 草屯九九峰生態復原豐富　　　　　　　　　　

After 17 years, Mt. 99, which was left denuded by the 921 earthquake, has restored its beauty. Among the lush hills now live over 500 different kinds of plants and animals. Many endemic species of Taiwan can also be found here. An infrared camera captured images of various animals in the woods of Mt. Chiu-chiu. Crab-eating mongoose, Formosan serow, wild boar, and macaque were all shown on the camera. What surprised the researchers most is that the endangered leopard cat also appeared on the camera, making the mountain full of life. ==YEH HSU-JUNG, Technician of the Nantou Forest District Office== Because of Mt. Chiu-chiu's unique geological formation, it is not easy to restore its vegetation. Therefore, we have to take special care to protect the area. The Mt. Chiu-chiu in Nantou's Tsaotun township was once denuded of vegetation. However, after 17 years of rest, the mountain becomes verdant again. With abundant food source, rare animals return as well. The Chinese Begonia, which is an endemic species of Taiwan, represents the mountain's restoration success. ==CHEN YAO-JUNG, Deputy Commissioner of the Nantou Forest District Office == It is unlikely to restore Mt. Chiu-chiu by afforestation. Since Mt. Chiu-chiu's natural feature caters to the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, we listed it as a nature reserve. Since the rocks of Mt. Chiu-chiu spall rather easily, natural preservation methods are employed to protect the area. Development of Mt. Chiu-chiu is not allowed as it is listed as a nature reserve and is protected by the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. It is hoped that through continuing effort, the mountains' unique landscape can be preserved for future generations. TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH 紅外線攝影鏡頭架在樹林，拍到難得一見的生態畫面，伸手不見五指的森林中，食蟹獴摸黑尋找食物，長鬃山羊也外出活動， 最可愛的是野豬寶寶群，黏著媽媽屁股後，甚至還有成群獼猴，而最讓研究人員興奮的，居然出現瀕臨絕種的石虎，不僅顯出生物多樣性，也讓這裡生機蓬勃。 ==南投林管處技正 葉旭容== (九九峰)算是特別 火焰山地形 所以遇到下雨 容易有些泥石礫 或是礫石小崩塌 所以植被是比較不易恢復的狀態 所以我們才需要 特別把它做保留 南投草屯九九峰，曾經嚴重崩塌成這副慘況，光禿禿的山頭沒有植被，也讓生物的食物來源缺乏，讓生物種類劇減，而歷經17年的休養生息，現在山壁又是青翠一片，稀有動物又回來棲息，珍稀的台灣特有種「岩生秋海棠」更是九九峰復育的代表性植物，豐富生態資源，見證大自然的轉變與自我治癒能力。 ==南投林管處副處長 陳燿榮== 人為因素(復育) 也非常陡 而且假如 要透過植樹造林 也是不容易 但是(特殊性)那麼好的條件 剛好符合文資法 所以我們就公布為自然保育區 南投林管處表示，當地屬於頭嵙山岩層，岩石比較容易剝落，維護不易，因此採非人工的方式，以自然保護為主，因為地景特殊，農委會以文資法列為保護對象，劃定自然保留區，禁止人為開發行為，也用時間和自然換取空間，歷經地震破壞之後，又重新展現自然生命力。 記者 林健生 賴世杰 南投報導