Regarding the passage of the Amendment to the Logging Ban Compensation for Lands Reserved for Indigenous Peoples Act by the Legislative Yuan today on June 4, the Council of Indigenous Peoples stated that the government has always prioritized indigenous rights, actively enhancing various policies related to culture, transportation, industry, and long-term care for indigenous peoples. The recently passed amendment might divert resources from other areas, however, nonetheless the government will continue to promote indigenous policies within its capacity.

In recent years, the government has made tireless efforts to promote indigenous policies and improve the welfare of indigenous peoples, including establishing 510 cultural and health stations nationwide, serving over 16,000 indigenous elders and providing 1,356 caregiving job opportunities. Additionally, 51 tribal meeting places have been built in indigenous areas to foster cultural heritage. To ensure safer travel for indigenous people, 1,850 kilometers of community roads have also been improved. The government has also supported 180 entrepreneurial teams, increasing the number of indigenous businesses to over 20,000, and established and operated indigenous product distribution centers in seven counties and cities, significantly enhancing the economic competitiveness of indigenous industries.

The Council of Indigenous Peoples highlighted that the Executive Yuan has also promoted the Urban Indigenous Development Plan in recent years, integrating resources and measures from seven ministries to collectively advance the basic rights and educational enhancement of urban indigenous peoples. The total budget for these initiatives over five years is NT$7.76 billion, with NT$2.57 billion allocated for actual implementation in 2023. Additionally, the Executive Yuan has approved a budget of approximately NT$5.86 billion for the first phase of the construction of the National Indigenous Peoples Museum.

Since the implementation of the logging ban compensation for lands reserved for indigenous peoples in July 2016, the approved compensation area has increased from 24,000 hectares in 2016 to over 72,000 hectares in 2023, benefiting 51,000 indigenous people. As of 2023, cumulative compensation payments have totaled approximately NT$12.47 billion. The compensation area is estimated to increase to 77,000 hectares in 2024, with compensation payments of approximately NT$2.321 billion.

The Council further noted that with the passage of the recent amendment, starting in 2025, the annual logging ban compensation will increase from NT$30,000 to NT$60,000 per hectare, with the required annual compensation amounting to approximately NT$5.215 billion. This increase of NT$2.599 billion represents about 41.6% of the Council's projected expenditure budget of NT$12.529 billion for 2025 (the additional NT$2.599 billion accounts for approximately 20%). Currently, 69% of the Council's annual budget is allocated to legally mandated expenditures. With the amendment, the combined proportion of the logging ban compensation and other legally mandated expenditures will reach 89%, potentially squeezing the budget for other important projects, including the National Indigenous Peoples Museum Construction Plan, the Austronesian Forum Mid- and Long-Term Plan, and the Indigenous Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement.

The Council emphasized that to safeguard national security and respond to climate change, compensating indigenous peoples for land use restrictions imposed by other regulations is an unavoidable responsibility. The Council will continue to promote policies that protect the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with the law.