Community Engagement in Restoring Landslides with Native Plants and Local Microorganisms

Abstract

Mountains cover 70% of Taiwan’s land area. In recent years, climate warming, intense rainfall, and human activities have greatly increased the risk of landslides and debris flows. In Taiwan, slope stabilization in landslide areas is commonly done with exotic grass species, while native grasses and wildflowers are rarely used. This has instead led to large-scale invasions of alien species. Despite being called out by the Legislative Yuan three years ago, the situation remains unimproved. The main reason is that neither the government nor horticultural businesses have invested in developing techniques for collecting and cultivating wild native seeds. Furthermore, restoration projects for native plants still primarily rely on the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s low-elevation experience, while the mid- to high-elevation mountain areas—which are critical for water conservation and harbor rich endemic biodiversity—continue to lack slope protection using native grass species. Drawing on nine years of experience in collecting pioneer grass species and raising seedlings within Taroko National Park, we have selected about 30 fast-growing grass species from over 150 plants capable of rapidly colonizing damaged landslide zones and arid rocky habitats. From these, we will test 4–6 grass–wildflower species that not only establish quickly but also provide ecosystem services such as nectar sources, food plants for insects, and landscape beautification. These seeds will be combined with natural plant biostimulants and environmental probiotics (beneficial microorganisms) isolated locally, incorporated into hydroseeding for drone-deployed seed balls with a cultivation substrate, enabling rapid germination on landslide sites. Local residents in Qingjing farm area will also help collect seeds, gather local environmental probiotics, and participate in vegetation restoration. This approach will enable low-cost, ecologically sustainable, and locally adapted native plant restoration to be successfully implemented on-site, with the techniques and experience to be promoted throughout Taiwan.

Methodology and Implementation Steps

1. 在地植生復育草種選拔：在平地臺大農場及中海拔梅峰農場，測試能適應3000公尺海拔到平地崩塌地的本土速生草種，記錄其種子萌芽及生長特性，選拔出耐熱、需水少、快速生長、能產生大量種子拓殖、可直接萌芽、根系旺盛、葉片覆蓋表面積大品系，及測試冷處理打破休眠及種子儲藏等條件，以建立崩塌地適生之本土草種栽培手冊。
2. 精準生態復育：於合歡山區或太魯閣周邊選定崩塌區，利用環境微生物收集器及草種根圈共生菌培養，以NGS次世代定序鑑定當地主要優勢菌種，並分離能改善土壤及促進植物生長之益生菌（如菌根真菌、固氮菌、溶磷菌）; 同時測試添加循環利用有機肥（雞羽水解胜肽）及天然植生刺激素（biostimulants：含生長素、細胞分裂素、促進水分利用抗逆境及抑制病原菌之植物生長調節物質），測試能否提高種子萌芽健康生長，藉此提昇植生復育工程中種子灑噴或種子球播種成功率。
3. 社區參與：除了精準鑑定環境微生物復育外，我們也將與在地民眾推廣韓國自然農法（KNF），直接以類堆肥方式培養當地優勢植物枝條嫩葉上附著之微生物，形成在地益生菌有機肥，並鑑定此堆肥與上述收集之環境微生物菌相的差別及植物生長促進效果。若相似，則成功製為在地天然低成本植物生長促進劑。

Innovation and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

本計畫選拔崩塌地適生植物草種，添加現地分離環境益生菌促進萌芽苗根系發育，此為保育本土生物多樣性及環境永續全球趨勢。我們選出的本土速生草種小苗，根系在破壞地土壤貧瘠及乾旱下仍能深入惡劣地固土，且社區居民協助野外採種，並在作物田間栽種創造農業生態多樣性。學界協同社區參與植生復育、知識共創，將能輔助政府施政無法顧及民間所需；企業回饋贊助保育生物多樣性研究，也適時讓學界無法穩定持續獲得政府預算的窘境抒解。

Expected Results and Contributions

現今山區各工務段仍以外來護坡而造成外來種入侵。本計畫將開發生態永續的『自然解方』植生復育技術。選拔出適應高低海拔乾旱惡劣地之本土速生草種，快速以草花植被覆蓋崩塌地保土護坡；更施以現地分離之本土環境微生物固氮菌等促進植物生長之益生菌，搶佔荒廢地避免外來種入侵，亦提供昆蟲食草與蜜源及景觀綠美化。未來此原生草花栽培技術將可技轉政府或民間為工務段及林保署生產種苗，複製至全臺灣進行大面積植生復育。