教甄◆英文科題庫

       Taiwan faces an ecological challenge with the invasive Mikania vine, commonly referred to as the bitter vine. Originally from Central and South America, this aggressive plant overwhelms local agriculture, suffocating crops like banana trees under a dense green blanket, earning it the moniker "green cancer." Despite its destructive nature, innovative approaches are transforming this ecological threat into economic opportunities. 

       The bitter vine thrives in Taiwan's warm, humid climate, growing up to 24 centimeters a day and invading altitudes from below 1,500 meters to over 2,000 meters. Its rapid growth and lack of natural predators in Taiwan where it disrupts local ecosystems and destabilizes mountain slopes pose significant challenges. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of Taiwan has identified multiple control strategies, avoiding chemicals in favor of mechanical removal and exploring biological controls like rust fungi, although concerns about collateral damage to other species have limited this approach.

       Efforts to manage the vine involve extensive manual labor, as volunteers and government workers pull up the pervasive weed by hand. However, the vine's resilience, capable of regrowing from mere fragments, and its prolific seed production, which disperses up to 170,000 seeds per square meter, complicate eradication efforts. Private landowners' reluctance to manage the weed further frustrates these efforts, necessitating government intervention and community mediation in some cases. 

       Innovation has sparked new uses for the vine, turning a problem into a resource. Huang Ying-pin, a researcher from the Industrial Technology Research Institute's Central Region Campus, has pioneered methods to transform the vine into valuable products. By carbonizing the vine at high temperatures, Huang produces a nitrogen-rich vinegar with properties that repel specific mosquito species, addressing another public health concern. Additionally, the residue from this process is converted into biochar, enhancing soil quality. 

       The vine's applications extend beyond agricultural enhancements. In collaboration with local entrepreneurs like Tai Mu-tsun, the vine is also used to produce incense that effectively repels biting insects, offering an alternative to traditional Chinese mugwort. This product, developed after extensive research and testing to ensure safety and efficacy, exemplifies the potential for turning invasive species into commercial products. 

       Further innovative applications include using the vine in the production of indigo dye and incorporating it into soaps and building materials like permeable bricks. These ventures not only utilize the vine's physical properties but also contribute to environmental sustainability by providing alternatives to conventional materials and chemicals. 

       The situation in Taiwan illustrates a broader lesson on handling invasive specieswhat begins as an ecological crisis can, with creativity and persistence, be transformed into an opportunity for economic development and environmental sustainability. While complete eradication of the bitter vine remains unlikely, the ongoing efforts to manage its spread and utilize its properties creatively underscore a proactive approach to ecological challenges. Taiwan's experience serves as a model for other regions grappling with similar invasive threats, demonstrating that with innovation, even the most daunting environmental problems can offer silver linings.