Before the ban, the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen (VACRS), which manages Chilan, had already cut down almost 6,000 hectares. To generate income, VACRS has continued logging there under the pretext of "clearing away dead and fallen trees to make space for young trees to grow."
由於棲蘭的管理單位是退輔會，過往已伐除將近六千公頃檜木林，為養活單位，退輔會遂以「清除林地上的枯立倒木，空出空間讓幼木成長」為由，繼續伐木。