202509/08
The “Transnational Workshop on Indigenous Knowledge, Co-Governance, and Nature-Based Solutions” co-hosted by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and National Chengchi University, took place successfully from September 5th to 8th. The event brought together over 30 experts and scholars from the United States and the Philippines to Taiwan. Through two keynote seminars and a field trip to the Saisiyat community of Nanzhuang, Miaoli, the event deepened international exchange and cooperation on the preservation of indigenous knowledge, climate adaptation, nature-based solution (NbS), and forest co-management.
The event commenced at National Chengchi University, where a memorandum of understanding was also signed. Proceedings then shifted to the FANCA, where Director General Lin Hwa-Ching shared how the Nanzhuang Saisiyat community’s co-management experience exemplifies the practice of NbS. Director General Lin recounted how the community and the government transitioned from being in opposition in the past to establishing a partnership through reconciliation ceremonies. Through this cooperation, a diverse range of green industries, including the under-forest economy, mountain patrol, forest therapy, and circular economy, have been progressively developed, turning the tide of previous challenges. Today, the community’s income has increased significantly while the forest also enjoys proper protection. Illegal logging has ceased entirely since 2019 and there have even been records of leopard cat sightings, all of which demonstrate triple benefits for the economy, society, and environment.
Notably, this event also invited Ms. Cherbett Karen L. Maralit, Deputy Resident Representative of the Philippine Representative Office in Taiwan, highlighting the close collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines. Scholars held in-depth discussions on topics such as “Land and Natural Resource Co-Management,” “Cultural Education and Social Dialogue,” and “Environmental Sustainability and Disaster Management,” sharing cross-border experiences and sparking diverse perspectives.
From September 6th to 7th, international scholars visited the Saisiyat community in Nanzhuang, Miaoli, to learn about the practices of “PaKaSan” and the achievements of co-management with the Hsinchu Branch of the FANCA (FANCA Hsinchu). These included various under-forest economy endeavors such as the Saisiyat Sacred Forest Therapy, under-forest beekeeping, log-cultivated shiitake mushrooms, FSC sustainable forestry production sites, circular economy demonstration bases, as well as diversified green product exhibition and sales platforms, including the “Forest Station” and “the House of Pakasan.” The international guests were also invited to participate in the opening ceremony of “the House of Pakasan” on the afternoon of September 7 to meet local small farmers and visit community markets to experience the Satoyama spirit and the outcomes of the sustainable value chain. In the future, in addition to the existing “Forest Station” as a platform for integrating co-management results, “the House of Pakasan” near Nanzhuang Old Street will become a second base for Nanzhuang’s Saisiyat community, where it will serve to showcase the FANCA’s policies and visions, indigenous communities’ narratives, and circular economy value to the outside world.
On the final day of the event, international scholars and guests gathered once again at the FANCA to focus on “ethno-ecological approaches, NbS, and participatory planning,” sharing regional history, ethnic relations and environmental sustainability cases, and envisioning future cross-border cooperation.
The FANCA stated that the co-management experiences with the Saisiyat community in Nanzhuang demonstrate how NbS can simultaneously advance ecological conservation and social development. This transnational workshop deepened the spirit of the tripartite memorandum of understanding between National Chengchi University, the FANCA, and PaKaSan. Furthermore, the participation of international scholars and representatives stationed in Taiwan, coupled with the official opening of “the House of Pakasan,” has allowed Taiwan’s experience and wisdom to be shared on the global stage, showcasing Taiwan’s concrete practices under the global biodiversity action goals.