Last week we travelled to famous Alishan to get an idea of the erosion, which is occurring there. Due to the cultivation of Wasabi, tea and bamboo, whose roots do not reach deep and therefore, can not bind the soil properly. So when typhoon season starts the huge rainfalls will soak into the ground, make it unstable and then cause the collapse of whole hillsides. They do not only destroy the scenery, but endanger the villages of the local residents. Furthermore, the government needs to spend a lot of money in trying to prevent mud slides, secure buildings, school and to repair roads. So if you want to conserve the natural beauty of Aishan, do not buy any of these products.