Each year regional exchange workshops are
the most anticipated and exciting flagship activity of Taiwan
Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (TPSI). As two-day events
conducted by each of
TPSI regional exchange bases – TPSI-North (TPSI-N), TPSI-West (TPSI-W),
TPSI-South (TPSI-S), and TPSI-East (TPSI-E), they provide an opportunity for
TPSI partners to visit TPSI SEPLS, exchange on-the-ground experiences, share
ideas, and search for partnership opportunities. The workshop participants
include government agencies, research and academia, NGOs and NPOs, community
organisations, green enterprises, farms, agro-parks, and other interested
individuals.
Over the years (est. 2016), the annual themes of exchange workshops have
included a diverse range of SEPLS relevant topics: revitalisation of SEPLS,
regional and national networking, youth participation, intergenerational
knowledge transfer and role of women, SEPLS resilience and biodiversity,
marketing and socio-economic development in SEPLS. By December 2023, almost
300 organisations have taken part in TPSI regional exchange workshops.
Since 2022 the “three in one” strategy of TPSI has been a key theme for TPSI
regional exchange workshops. The strategy looks at the linkage between Taiwan
Ecological Network, Satoyama Initiative and Community Forestry projects and
aims to enhance community-based production activities, strengthen ecosystem
connectivity and foster SEPLS-to-SEPLS partnership networks. In 2023, learning
from previous experiences, the “three in one” strategy was explored by the
regional bases at a deeper level. What is the connection between production
activities in SEPLS and biodiversity conservation? How to foster community
partnerships and co-learning within conservation corridors? What new
approaches and successes can we learn from? Each regional workshop had its own
unique agenda, participants and case studies. Below we invite you to explore
some of 2023 highlights.
TPSI-North
[Satoyama News piece shared by Dr.
Hsin-Hsun Huang黃信勳 and Kevin Shum 岑嘉宏 from Dharma Drum Institute of
Liberal Arts, DILA]
On 1-2 June 2023, TPSI-North Regional
Exchange Base - Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA) - held a
two-day regional exchange workshop featuring Satoyama practitioners of
northern Taiwan. The theme of the workshop was the “Three in One” Strategy:
Taiwan Ecological Network, Satoyama Initiative and Community Forestry. A
total of 115 participants from 29 organisations took part in this remarkable
annual event.
On the first day of the workshop, the participants visited three local
partners located within the Lanyang Plain Wetland and Stream Conservation
Corridor (Yilan county) of Taiwan Ecological Network (TEN): Shuanglianpi
Sustainable Development Association – The Satoyaman (mountain village trip);
Xinnan Tiandong Rice Agricultural Enterprise (running a ‘restaurant’ for
migratory birds), and Dakenggu Community Development Association (night
watching of land crabs). Yilan District Office of the Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency also shared their recent work on policy and promotion of
conservation corridors within TEN.
The second day of the workshop was held in the form of indoor
presentations and discussions and consisted of two parts. The first part was
focused on the “three in one” strategy, where Professor Mei-Hui Chen from
the Forestry Department of National Pingtung University of Science and
Technology (NPUST, TPSI-South Regional Exchange Base) gave a keynote
presentation on the importance of connecting Taiwan Ecological Network,
Satoyama Initiative and Community Forestry into one strategic approach. To
demonstrate the meaning of the “three in one” strategy in practice, Gongxing
Community Development Association (Fanlu Township, Chiayi County) shared the
story of Marbled jewel orchid cultivation and sustainable use of timber as a
part of agroforestry promotion activities. Professor Hsin-Hsun Huang from
DILA further reflected on the importance of linking Satoyama-Satoumi
production activities with the conservation objectives of TEN by showcasing
successful efforts towards partnership and co-learning between the Satoyama
communities of Taiwan’s northern coast. Zhongliao Community Development
Association (Tamshui District, New Taipei City) presented their efforts
towards revitalisation of the century old Zhongliao terraced paddy landscape
and development of Satoyama community.
The second part of the indoor discussion looked at the importance of
diversified economic development for promotion of the deep economy in
Satoyama areas. Associate Researcher Dr. Jing-Wen Wang from Taiwan
Biodiversity Research Institute (Ministry of Agriculture) spoke about
biodiversity-friendly production activities for net zero carbon emissions,
highlighting the imperative role of agriculture and forestry in reducing
emissions and increasing sinks. Two long-time TPSI partners – Jacana
Ecological Education Park (Guantian District, Tainan City) and Fuxing Nanhe
Leisure Agricultural District (Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County) – were
invited to share their on-the-ground development experiences on site-based
conservation. The former focuses on their brand development experiences and
the later focuses on the development of eco-leisure agriculture, and forest
therapy.
TPSI-South
[Satoyama News piece shared by Dr.
Mei-Hui Chen 陳美惠 and Regine Liao 廖瑞雲 from National Pingtung University
of Science and Technology]
TPSI-S regional exchange workshop this
time featured a unique format as it was held alongside the 2023
Taiwan-Japan Satoyama Exchange Conference. The first exchange of such kind
took place in 2018, when, with support from the Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency (former Forestry Bureau), Community Forestry Centre of
the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST,
TPSI-S), and a group of Japanese Satoyama practitioners signed a
partnership agreement. It was focused on the issues of biodiversity
conservation in Satoyama areas, ecosystem restoration, deep economy,
sustainable production in SEPLS, and nature-culture linkages.
Since 2018, Taiwan and Japan have maintained close partnership and
exchanges. Even during Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022), the two sides still
managed to jointly complete the "Community Forestry Technical Manual:
Selected Cases of Satoyama in Japan" publication in both Chinese and
Japanese languages. The publication tells the story of successful Satoyama
cases in both countries fostering further experience sharing and practical
partnerships between Taiwan and Japan.
In August 2023, as a part of its regional exchange workshop, TPSI-S
organised the 2023 Taiwan-Japan Satoyama Exchange Conference and invited
six Japanese guests to Taiwan. The Japanese visiting delegation, led by
Mr. Nakamura Nobuyuki, consisted of experts who have long been involved in
Satoyama and rural revitalization, environmental conservation and
education, and forest early childhood education in Japan, including NPO
workers, Satoyama practitioners, and city councillors. In addition to
sharing the story of Satoyama development in Japan and concrete case study
experiences during indoor seminars and discussions, the Japanese guests
got to explore the SEPLS of south-eastern Taiwan. This was a unique
experience that allowed for in-depth communication with local communities,
government officers, NPOs, scholars, and experts. One of such visits was
to the Indigenous Bunun community in Nan’An Tribe, Zhuoxi Township,
Hualien County.
TPSI-West
[Satoyama News piece shared by Dr.
Mei-Li Hseuh 薛美莉 and Yu-Hsuan Jiang 江郁宣 from Taiwan Biodiversity
Research Institute]
In September 2023, TPSI-W regional
exchange workshop explored the “three in one” strategy by visiting the
following four communities: Daxueshan Forestry Direct Sales Centre’s
mountain product store, Damaopu and Ruanpikeng, Shibumizu (Seishui)
Community, and Hushan Community. The workshop was a unique opportunity
for TPSI partners from different parts of Taiwan to get to know these
resilient SEPLs first-hand and learn more about such sustainable
management practices as eco-friendly agriculture, agroforestry, deep
economy, forest therapy, and local crafts. It created a space for both
indoor and outdoor exchanges, in-depth discussions and future
partnerships.
On the first day of the workshop, the participants visited Daxueshan
Forestry Direct Sales Centre, where they learned about the log wood
Shiitake mushroom cultivation and operations of the mountain product
store. The store sells environmentally friendly produce from
neighbouring communities such as citrus fruits, native cinnamon, Taiwan
mountain pepper (magao), Shiitake mushrooms, and others. Damaopu
community of Dongshih District, Taichung City was the next stop of the
journey. Wu Zhe-Ming, the leader of the Damaopu survey team, shared how
Damaopu community uses the results of local ecological surveys to
improve sustainable water use and local livelihoods. Shibumizu (Seishui)
Community, Yuchi Township, Nantou County was the last stop of the day.
The area is not only famous for production of Taiwanese black tea but is
also a great example of community-based maintenance of eco-trails,
dragonfly and bird surveys, and wetland conservation. In the evening,
community members prepared local delicacies and Taiwan Biodiversity
Research Institute organised a night eco-tour.
The morning of the second day of the workshop was held indoors.
Professor Kuang-Chung Lee from National Dong Hwa University shared his
experience of visiting and learning from the Satoyama sites in Japan.
Nantou and Taichung District Offices of the Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency were invited to explain about the planning and
implementation of Taiwan Ecological Network in the western and central
parts of Taiwan. Six local partners from TPSI-W (Yangquan Charity
Foundation, Shihu Friendly Farming, Hushan Community, Fuzhou Community,
Experimental Forest Management Office Shuili Forestry Area, and Mabihao
Tribal Development Association) shared their experiences in maintaining
traditional culture and promoting eco-friendly farming. In the
afternoon, the participants visited Hushan Community in Douliu City,
Yunlin County. It was originally a small settlement in the Douliu Hills
and after the completion of the Hushan Reservoir, has been actively
participating in local forest restoration (including eco-tree climbing)
and Snake-eating Turtle conservation.
TPSI-East
[Satoyama News piece shared by Dr.
Kuang-Chung Lee 李光中 and Summer Sun 孫夏天 from National Dong Hwa
University]
In October 2023, the last but not
least of all regional exchange bases, TPSI-E explored the topic of
ecological and socio-cultural connectivity in eastern Taiwan. Beinan
River and Coastal Mountain Range Conservation Corridors of Taiwan
Ecological Network in Taitung County were chosen as the workshop
destinations. Community members from Nanwang Tribe, Lichi and Fuyuan
villages, supported by Taitung District Office of the Forestry and
Nature Conservation Agency and National Dong Hwa University (TPSI-E),
invited the workshop participants to explore the topics of
community-based biodiversity conservation, traditional resource use,
geoparks and geoproducts, and ecosystem connectivity. Indoor and
outdoor discussions looked at the role of SEPLS in connecting
biodiversity and restoring fragmented habitats within the conservation
corridors.
This was the first time for a TPSI regional exchange workshop to
welcome Indigenous community guests from abroad. Mr. Songphonsak
Ratanawilailak（Mulu）and Mr. Natdanai Trakansupakorn (Jump) from
Pgakenyaw Association for Sustainable development (PASD) were invited
to share the Satoyama experiences from Karen Indigenous Community,
Chiang Mai, Thailand. Dr. Jasmine Black – a Research Fellow on
Alternative Food Systems at the United Nations University and
University of Tokyo, Japan – provided a unique perspective on the role
of artistic self-expression in biodiversity conservation. Their
stories of sustainable agroforestry practices, local business
development, and youth leadership resonated deeply with TPSI partners,
encouraging more visits and exchanges in the future.
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