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202411/27
Mudan Township, Pingtung County, has actively promoted a placemaking program since 2020. With the approval of the National Development Council, it has been dedicated to developing the specialty industry of the “under-forest economy.” Thanks to the promotion efforts of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Mudan Township has been actively realizing the vision of “Sustainable Forestry, Ecological Taiwan,” and has successfully led the circular economy based on forest resources. On November 27, the “Domestic Timber Woodworking Workshop and Results Presentation of the Forest Biomass Recycling Site” was held to showcase the results of Mudan Township’s hard work in promoting the under-forest economy.
Mudan Township’s Placemaking 2.0, From Under-forest Economy to Circular Economy Based on Forest Resources
The FANCA stated that Mudan Township Office is the first place in Taiwan to cooperate with the “under-forest economy” policy as the focal point of placemaking and development. The under-forest economy industry in Mudan Township has been successfully promoted with the professional technology and financial support of the FANCA for its development, recycling of residual materials, processing and utilization of domestic timber, as well as assistance from the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST). Adhering to the spirit of the Satoyama Initiative, Mudan Township has successfully combined forest resources with agricultural production to address the challenges of climate change, agricultural technology upgrading, population aging, and youth returning to their hometowns. Three major agricultural projects—“Animal Husbandry in Mountain Forests,” “Under-forest Mushroom Cultivation,” and “Under-forest Beekeeping and Honey Production” have been developed to create a source of stable economic income for local residents and to promote eco-tourism and the development of a circular economy.
According to the FANCA, Mudan Township will further promote the construction of a “Domestic Timber Woodworking Workshop” and a “Forest Resources Gas Power Generation System” through the “Mudan Township Agricultural Production Under-Forest Economy Business Upgrading Plan.” On this basis, Mudan Township will create Taiwan's first “Forest Biomass Energy Recycling Site” to give full play to the benefits of utilizing all of the timber resources from the local forests. Not only is this an innovative practice that integrates woodworking crafts and environmental education, but it will also serve as a demonstration site for the development of local talents and resource recycling.
Incorporating the Utilization of Forest Resources and Cultural Heritage: Woodworking Workshop Revitalizes Tribal Community
The Mudan Township Office has utilized the unused space of the Dongyuan Forest Recreation Area to set up a “Domestic Timber Woodworking Workshop,” installing basic wood processing equipment for small-diameter timber such as band saws, planers, and saw benches. The office also developed unique cultural and creative products by adding local tribal cultural elements. The workshop not only serves as an excellent environmental education site, but also offers woodworking talent development courses. It promotes the use of domestic timber and training and allows community residents to learn woodworking techniques and create DIY kits with tribal cultural features. The workshop is also designed to allow visitors to experience the therapeutic process of woodworking in the forest recreation area, and the activities are very popular among the public.
The “Forest Resources Gas Power Generation System” in Mudan Township, Pingtung County, which is set up next to the woodworking workshop, makes effective use of the leftover materials from forest cultivation or tree pruning, invasive plants, and agricultural waste. These are transformed into renewable clean energy sources, which not only benefit the workshop and the Dongyuan Forest Recreation Area, but also help achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. By-products such as charcoal and wood vinegar are also sold, creating added value for the forest resources.
Innovation and Sustainability for an Organic Satoyama Lifestyle of Indigenous Communities
The results presentation demonstrated how the technologies for three under-forest economies — “under-forest chicken farming,” “under-forest log-cultivated shiitake mushrooms,” and “under-forest beekeeping” —have been utilized to promote stable incomes for local farmers and mountain villagers, as well as to develop a circular economy and sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, Mudan Township incorporated the Xuhai Tourism Route by setting up the “Mudan Farming Cevungan” sales outlet at the Xuhai road intersection. The outlet showcases and sells under-forest economy products and woodcrafts, attracting tourists visiting Xuhai to stop by and experience the Satoyama lifestyle of the indigenous people.
Mudan Township is the first to create a placemaking program that focuses on the under-forest economy, which not only gives economic value to forest resources, but also integrates environmental protection and local talent development. It demonstrates the vast potential of the “under-forest economy” and “circular economy based on forest resources,” thus creating a model for the local implementation of “Sustainable Forestry, Ecological Taiwan.”