Last year, huge waves washed away the soil around a century-old Alexandrian laurel during Typhoon Morakot.

The tree is situated on the coast one kilometer south of Daren達仁 Township's Nantian南田 Village.

In response to a petition started by the villagers to save the tree, the Taitung County Government agreed last month to categorize the tree as "protected."

Over the past few days, Taitung Forest District Office workers have been working to save the tree.

This hundred-year old Alexandrian laurel is a local landmark. Situated on the coast one kilometer south of Daren Township's Nantian Village, the tree is unique in appearance due to its unusual number of branches.

Many people refer to it as the "husband and wife tree," because its branches resemble couples holding hands.

Last year, huge waves washed away the soil around the tree during Typhoon Morakot.

300 villagers started a petition to save the tree, and their efforts were rewarded last month when the Taitung County Government gave the tree "protected" status.

Nantian is a Paiwan community, and many villagers draw parallels between the tree and the lives of Austronesian migrants as they move across the ocean in search of a place to set down roots.

The tree will likely perish if it is moved, and Taitung Forest District Office workers are doing everything they can to save it.