202505/02
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) and the Society for Wildlife and Nature co-organized the “International Biological Diversity Conservation Trends Forum”, which was held at the FANCA’s International Conference Hall today (05/02). The event attracted more than 200 representatives from government agencies, academia, citizen organizations, and the corporate sector to share the latest development trends and key promotion priorities of the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as discuss Taiwan’s biodiversity policies and implementation directions. At this critical moment when global biodiversity is facing unprecedented challenges, Taiwan has demonstrated its firm determination in biodiversity conservation, actively aligned itself with international trends, and strengthened cross-ministerial and community cooperation to jointly create a new pattern of sustainable development.
Connecting with International Trends, Strengthening Local Actions and Diversified Participation
Last November (2024), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity held the 16th Conference of the Parties (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, with more than 23,000 representatives from various countries and international organizations attending the event. Taiwan participated as a non-governmental organization (NGO) observer following the past practice, and shared biodiversity conservation achievements at many side conferences and events, connecting with the international community and establishing cooperation through practical actions in biodiversity.
The FANCA has been actively involved in biodiversity conservation for many years. Through cross-agency cooperation and public-private collaborations, the FANCA has established a positive foundation for many action goals guided by national policies, especially in projects such as spatial planning for national ecological conservation, endangered species conservation, indigenous and community participation, and corporate collaboration. The FANCA has also begun revising the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and is actively reviewing and transforming these to align with Taiwan’s policy direction, in order to keep pace with international trends.
Director General Lin Hwa-Ching said that the FANCA has been promoting the conservation and restoration of rice terrace ecosystems since 2009, focusing on biodiversity while also taking into account the development of local community industries. The agency is also actively connecting biodiversity-rich, low-elevation mountain areas to critical coastal regions, which is in line with the concept of the internationally promoted Satoyama Initiative. With the support of the Executive Yuan, the FANCA has been promoting the Taiwan Ecological Network (TEN) program across ministries and agencies since 2018, and has completed the spatial planning blueprint for ecological conservation in Taiwan. It serves as an important strategic guideline for promoting ecosystem restoration and connectivity, achieving the “30by30” land target, and guiding the resource investment of cross-agency and public-private collaborations. In the future, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) will be included to assist ministries and agencies to respond to various climate and societal challenges, and to promote green infrastructure and integrated regional management. The aim is to effectively restore habitats and enhance interconnectedness and ecosystem services, which will become a critical turning point for the governance of national spatial planning.
In addition, the diverse participation of indigenous peoples and communities is also a key focus in international biodiversity conservation. In recent years, the FANCA has jointly managed natural resources with the Saisiyat community in Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli, and has further brought together practical results such as the restoration of endangered species (Citrus taiwanica), sharing of ecosystem service benefits, revitalization of traditional indigenous intellectual culture, and sustainable forestry management. It demonstrates Taiwan’s mutual trust and mutual assistance in natural resource management and local community conservation, as well as the practical implementation of the core CBD objectives in the sustainable use of natural resources and benefit-sharing, thus serving as a model for conservation.
Scholars’ suggestions: Promote cross-regional conservation strategies from multiple perspectives based on Taiwan’s experiences
The event invited many scholars, experts, and speakers who participated in CBD COP16, as well as corporate representatives, to share the key points and trend observations on international biodiversity conservation. The forum focused on the integration of climate change and conservation policies, strengthening the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, open sharing of ecological data, and how companies can fulfill their responsibilities to the environment. We hope to promote cross-sector cooperation and create new opportunities for conservation through dialogues of diverse perspectives.
Professor Chen I-Ching of National Cheng Kung University pointed out that climate change is closely related to biodiversity, and suggested improving habitat quality and connectivity through the Taiwan Ecological Network to mitigate climate impacts. Dr. Paulina G. Karimova from National Dong Hwa University emphasized the key role of indigenous peoples and communities in ecological governance, and pointed out that Taiwan has become an international model in this field, using the Satoyama Initiative and Integrated Sustainable Landscape Management (ISLA) as a framework.
Professor Ding Tzung-Su of National Taiwan University shared Taiwan’s achievements in establishing open ecological monitoring data and indicators, and suggested that regular monitoring and reporting could be conducted in accordance with international standards in the future, using scientific data to strengthen policy promotion and effectiveness evaluation. Professor Lin Si-Min of National Taiwan Normal University used the urban blue-green network as an example to demonstrate the important role of NGOs and public-private collaborations in urban wildlife conservation, and to strengthen the process of conservation mainstreaming.
Researcher Chen Wei-En of National Sun Yat-Sen University advocated sustainable marine conservation, linking international goals with local actions through a global dialogue platform. Secretary-General Mo Tung-Li of the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) pointed out that COP16 brings transformation opportunities to companies, and they should integrate ESG strategies with a nature-positive mindset and work together to contribute to biodiversity conservation.
Cross-Sector Dialogue for Action and New Opportunities for Conservation
At the end of the forum, Lin Hwa-Ching hosted a panel discussion and invited Chairman Chung Kuo-Fang of the Society for Wildlife and Nature, Professor Lee Kuang-Chung of National Dong Hwa University, Distinguished Professor Lin Si-Min of National Taiwan Normal University, Professor Ding Tzung-Su of National Taiwan University, and Secretary-General Mo Dong-Li of BCSD to exchange views on international biodiversity trends and local conservation actions. It is hoped that Taiwan will continue to promote cross-ministerial, cross-departmental and cross-sector cooperation under the guidance of the core spirit and conservation targets of the CBD, with the Taiwan Ecological Network, ecosystem restoration, and nature-based methods as core strategies to realize the vision of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.