Abstract
This study investigated Taiwanese private landowners’ participation in afforestation carbon
reduction and their intentions towards carbon trading. Research results indicated that nearly
75% of landowners were unclear about the current afforestation policy. Most subjects had
smaller farmlands and deemed that the area constraint was unimportant. About 45% and
more than 50% of respondents respectively deemed that the 20-yr participation period and
restricting tree species were reasonable. More than 40% of respondents also deemed that
being identified as a farmer was not necessary for participation in the afforestation program.
From the results, the government needs to provide reward measures, including tax reductions
and subsidies, to increase incentives to reduce carbon by afforestation. The government also
needs to promote related reward measures for afforestation carbon reduction in order to
increase the number of participants. Constraints on the land area should be relaxed to attract
more private landowners to participate. In addition, the government should examine the
willingness of other industrial sectors to participate in afforestation carbon reduction, so as to
create regulations more efficiently. The policies of other countries on advocating the reward
schemes can be referenced. Regulations and rewards of carbon trading schemes should be broadcast via the media. Contact windows in each village/town should be established so
that citizens can easily access the related information.