A 185-hectare tract of green space in Taipei's Nangang is under threat, as the nearby Academia Sinica prepares to transform part of the property into a biotechnology research center.

Metropolitan Taipei's last major green space, it has been under protection as a military reserve for decades.

The three ponds on the site not only contribute to the beautiful scenery but also are ideal natural habitats for aquatic plants and waterbirds, the sources said. Some endangered species, such as Formosan blue magpies and hawks, nest in the area.

Apart from the natural scenery and special ecology on the site, the area is also rich in history and culture. The centuries-old cemetery of a senior Qing Dynasty official, an ancient artillery site and three temples built centuries ago are all located within the complex.

The land originally housed a military equipment production facility, commonly known as Factory No. 202, under the jurisdiction of the "Ministry of Defense".

The military, under instructions from the Executive Yuan, has allocated 25.5 hectares of land to Academia Sinica, the island's top academic institution.

The Armaments Bureau is scheduled to hand over the 25.5-hectares of land to Academia Sinica next year, but some environmental groups are pushing the Executive Yuan to reconsider its decision. Environmentalists said they hope the area would be retained as an ecological conservation site.

Defense department sources said only 35 percent of the Factory No. 202 area is suitable for new construction. The topography of the rest of the land is mostly hills and gorges, which makes it unsuited to construction, the sources said.

Responding to the call, an Academia Sinica spokesman said that fewer than 10 hectares of land to be allocated by the MND will be used to build the planned biotech research park, while the remainder will be developed as a recreational area. The institution promises to aim for low-impact development of the land in order not to spoil the natural environment, the spokesman added.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 04/13/2010 page3)