202307/11
On May 16, 2023, the Legislative Yuan passed the Third Reading of the Organization Act of the Ministry of Agriculture, elevating the Council of Agriculture (COA) to the Ministry of Agriculture. This Ministry has set a dedicated unit, the “Department of Resources Sustainability,” to meet the 2040 agricultural net-zero goal, establish a robust food security system, protect and fully utilize agricultural land, and implement multifunctional value agriculture. In addition, to ensure the integrity of terrestrial vital ecosystems and biodiversity and to strengthen forests and natural carbon sinks, as well as to sustainably share the value of forest ecosystem services, the Forestry Bureau will be restructured into the “Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency.” The visions of the Department of Resources Sustainability and the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency all revolve around the sustainable utilization of natural resources, creating new governance dynamics for the future.
To respond to climate change and rapid international environmental shifts, the COA is striving to enhance agricultural resilience, for which the best solution lies in upholding the traditional ecological wisdom and sustainable resource utilization spirit of indigenous communities. Therefore, the COA has proactively cooperated with the Saisiyat community of Nanzhuang in Miaoli County to carry out initiatives such as resource cycling, sustainable forestry management, and sharing of ecological benefits. These efforts aim to construct the first demonstration site for the co-management of mountains and forests and resource cycling in Taiwan.
Within this demonstration site, the COA unveiled for the first time the “Forestry Residual Material Recycling System" installed at the Forestry Bureau’s Nanzhuang Seedling Nursery. This system utilizes leftover materials such as branches, leaves, and agricultural residues from nearby communities that were previously considered valueless and left to decompose on-site, and transforms them into valuable resources such as fuel pellets, plant essential oils, and biochar. Additionally, the heat produced by the system is used to dry log-cultivated shiitake mushrooms from the under-forest economy, turning waste into green resources, meeting goals such as zero waste in recycling, and establishing feasible circular industry chains and agricultural net-zero.
One of the main highlights of this demonstration site is the co-management of forests. Since forming a partnership, the Forestry Bureau, COA and the Saisiyat community of Nanzhuang have gradually established a foundation of mutual trust through activities like under-forest beekeeping. With the guidance of the Hsinchu Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau, indigenous community members were assisted in establishing cooperatives to engage in tasks, including manmade forest logging, timber production, and afforestation. Simultaneously, in line with international trends, the Forestry Bureau introduced the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification to achieve the sustainable management of forests, balancing economic, social, and environmental aspects. During the FSC auditing process conducted by international third-party verification organizations in Taiwan, indigenous community members collaborated with personnel from the Hsinchu Forest District Office to present a comprehensive forestry management process compliant with FSC principles and fulfilling the FSC’s requirements regarding indigenous rights. As a result, the Hsinchu Forest District Office successfully passed the audit in May 2023, making the national forests of Nanzhuang a prime example of an international certification obtained by the government through the support of indigenous communities.
To practice co-management of forests, paying attention to the livelihoods of those reliant on forest resources is an indispensable part of the sustainable use of natural resources. The Forestry Bureau and the Saisiyat community of Nanzhuang are dedicated to developing a green Satoyama economy. In response, the building of the former control post in Nanzhuang Township has been restored and remodeled to create the “Forest Station.” This space serves as a multifunctional area for social interaction and for tribal communities to display and sell non-timber forest products. The various under-forest economy products sold onsite include forest honey, log-cultivated shiitake mushrooms, and jam made from Nansho Daidai sour oranges produced by the community. It also provides green, circular products such as plant essential oils and dried shiitake mushrooms produced through the recycling system, establishing a distinct local green forest industry in Nanzhuang. To further diversify the development of this green forest industry, one of the strategies is to lead the public to explore a secret travel destination through the “Journey to Saisiyat’s Hidden Realm” tourism program, from which participants can experience the lush primeval forests. This is also an important development strategy for the cooperation between the Forestry Bureau and the Saisiyat of Nanzhuang. The itinerary is led by tribal elders on a journey that delves into the past, retracing the footsteps of their ancestors. The trip includes visiting the forest test site for the Saisiyat tribe’s coming-of-age ceremony on Jialishan, cleansing one’s sorrows in Wangyou Valley with the river water, understanding Taiwan’s historical role as the “Camphor Kingdom” at the remains of the Jhangnaoliao camp, and finally receiving blessings under a century-old stout camphor tree, which symbolizes the tree of life. This journey beautifully narrates the changes in society over the past century through the rich culture of the Saisiyat people.
Chi-Chung Chen, Minister of the COA, stated, “Agriculture is the foundation of Taiwan.” The elevation of the COA through organizational reform into the Ministry of Agriculture is a response to the expectations of farmers and fishermen nationwide. The reform is just the beginning and preparations are already in place for the launch of various initiatives. Sustainable development is our shared responsibility to future generations. Sustainable forestry and an ecological Taiwan are the visions we have outlined for the future. After the establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture, concrete efforts will be made to advance policies related to climate change adaptation in agriculture, achieving net-zero emissions, and enhancing national nature conservation efforts. Moreover, the ministry will create a more resilient agriculture for the people of Taiwan, ensuring the sustainable development of the nation’s agriculture.