Fern farmer - Pingtung

If the ecologists had their way, this scene would be widespread in Taiwan. Tall, thin betelnut trees cover the countryside. In appearance they resemble coconut trees, but they produce bundles of small nuts that are sold on the roadside. Betelnut has similar effects to chewing tobacco (a buzz, nasty teeth, and is carcinogenic), and it is also terrible for erosion (hence all the dry riverbeds save for sporadic flooding during the rainy season). But the trees are sparse enough to let plenty of light through, so growing ferns underneath is a great option to make use of the land, provide farmers some extra cash, and prevent the ill environmental effects.