TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s forestry agency said Tuesday it is using drones to reseed landslide zones around Techi Reservoir to stabilize slopes and reduce runoff.
The Taichung branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said the project began two years ago and has since restored 1.7 hectares of landslide-prone terrain, with vegetation recovery at about 24%, per UDN. Officials said the work is being carried out in the Dajia River forest area.
The agency said the watershed has been monitored since 2013 using satellite imagery and unmanned aircraft to track landslide changes and guide restoration. Following restoration efforts, the active landslide area in the watershed shrank from 2,769 hectares in 2013 to 1,841 hectares in 2025.
Due to the difficult terrain, agency officials said they used drones instead of workers to ensure safety. The agency said it had sown native species to improve slope stability and recovery.
It added that natural disasters threaten the project and slow recovery. In response, it will continue seeding and monitoring conditions.
The 180-meter Techi Dam forms Techi Reservoir. It is Taiwan’s tallest dam and one of the highest concrete thin-arch dams in the world.
