[Written by @ScapesLab, Center for Sustainable Development, National Dong Hwa
University]
2024, the year of the Dragon (Long), carried with it
the characteristics of this legendary creature: adventurous, bold, fast-paced,
and forward-looking. From the “3 in 1” training workshops on promotion of the
Satoyama Initiative and Community Forestry within the framework of Taiwan
Ecological Network (March-July), to two-day IPSI Collaborative Activity event
between Taiwan’s 26 IPSI members (May), to advanced workshops on resilience
assessment and adaptive co-management in Taiwan’s SEPLS, to participation in
CBD
COP16 in Cali, Colombia (October-November) – 2024 was certainly a year to
remember. Let’s explore each of its milestones in a bit more detail.
March-July 2024 | A series of the “3 in 1” training and
consultation
workshops on the Satoyama Initiative, Community Forestry and Taiwan Ecological
Network
In 2018, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
introduced Taiwan Ecological
Network (國土生態保育綠色網絡建置計畫) as the first of its kind national
program that combines biodiversity data-based spatial planning and
cross-sectoral cooperation for an effective area-based conservation in
Taiwan’s
shallow mountains, plains, wetlands, and coastal areas. Its two main
objectives
focus on (I) restoration and support of resilient, biodiverse, connected, and
well-functioning ecosystems, and (II) conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity in SEPLS, and promotion of community resilience (Figure 1).
Taiwan
Ecological Network completed its first phase in 2018-2021 and is currently in
its second phase (2022-2025).
In 2022, having become the leader of the Taiwan
Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (TPSI), Professor Mei-Hui Chen from
National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (TPSI-South regional
exchange base) introduced the “3 in 1”
strategy strategy to foster implementation of Taiwan Ecological Network
in
SEPLS. The main goal of the “3 in 1” strategy is to build on the strengths of
the integrated landscape-seascape approaches promoted by the Satoyama
Initiative
(est. 2010) and community-led conservation projects supported by the Community Forestry
program (est. 2002) and effectively align them with the spatial planning
and action tasks of Taiwan Ecological Network (Figure 2).
In 2022-2023, the “3 in 1” strategy was the main
theme of TPSI annual regional exchange workshops. These interactive
on-the-ground exchanges between Satoyama practitioners explored the role of
production activities and sustainable use of biodiversity in SEPLS, helped to
foster community partnerships across conservation corridors, and promoted new
approaches to community-based conservation. To learn more about the workshops,
visit: Act Local - at the heart of TPSI activities: TPSI 2022 Regional
Exchange
Workshops Act Local-at
the heart of TPSI activities: TPSI 2022 Regional Exchange Workshops and
Conservation,
Production and Partnerships: the “Three in One” Strategy for 2023 TPSI
Regional Exchange Workshops.
In March-July 2024, TPSI team with support from the
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency decided to take promotion of the “3 in
1” strategy to the next level through a series of indoor training and
consultation workshops. A total of eight workshops were conducted on the
premises of the eight branches of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency.
In addition to the Agency staff who took on the role of preparing and leading
the workshops, representatives of the SEPLS communities and partners from the
ecological consultant companies were also invited to join in. The main
objectives of these one-day indoor events included: a better understanding of
priority issues faced by the SEPLS communities; alignment of SEPLS priorities
with the seven action tasks of Taiwan Ecological Network (Figure 3);
brainstorming ideas to enhance implementation of Taiwan Ecological Network on
the ground, especially during its third phase (2026-2029).
The workshops proved to be a big success and
received a warm welcome from all participants. It was a unique opportunity to
not only deepen the knowledge about the “3 and 1” strategy and its components
but also to engage in an interactive discussion of common challenges and ways
forward. Ecological connectivity and water supply, impacts of climate change
on
production activities, invasive alien species and the need for long-term
biodiversity monitoring, aging and depopulation in SEPLS, transmission and
documentation of Indigenous and local knowledge, biodiversity-based incomes
and
business engagement (including ESG) – these and many other environmental,
social
and economic concerns were raised by the participants. They will serve as a
critical foundation for strengthening the implementation of Taiwan Ecological
Network in the coming years.
The ”3 in 1” training and consultation workshops in photos:
TPSI-North regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency,
Yilan Branch (Image source: TPSI-N, 2024 ©)
TPSI-North regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency,
Hsinchu Branch (Image source: TPSI-N, 2024 ©)
TPSI-West regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency,
Taichung Branch (Image source: TPSI-W, 2024 ©)
TPSI-West regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency,
Nantou Branch (Image source: TPSI-W, 2024 ©)
TPSI-South regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency, Chiayi Branch (Image
source: TPSI-S, 2024 ©)
TPSI-South regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency,
Pingtung Branch (Image source: TPSI-S, 2024 ©)
TPSI-East regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency,
Hualien Branch (Image source: @ScapesLab, 2024 ©)
TPSI-East regional exchange base/ Forestry and Nature
Conservation Agency,
Taitung Branch (Image source: @ScapesLab, 2024 ©)
May 2024 | 2024 IPSI Collaborative Activity: Taiwan IPSI
Members Annual
Exchange
Annual exchanges between Taiwan IPSI members have
been a tradition since 2019. Usually conducted indoors as a half-day or
one-day
event, they bring together IPSI members from all around the island to share
their achievements, exchange experiences and prepare for important IPSI
events.
Over the years, the themes of the exchanges have included: “Post-2020 Global
Biodiversity Framework and its importance for the Satoyama Initiative in
Taiwan”
(2020), “Ten years of the Satoyama Initiative in Taiwan: lessons learned and
future outlook” (2021), “Taiwan’s SEPLS: society living in connectivity with
nature” (2022), and “IPSI Plan of Action (2023-2030): the meaning of five
strategic objectives for Taiwan’s SEPLS” (2023).
In 2024, the Forestry and Nature Conservation
Agency, National Dong Hwa University, National Pingtung University of Science
and Technology, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, and Taiwan Biodiversity
Research Institute jointly launched IPSI Collaborative Activity entitled “Taiwan
IPSI Members Annual Exchange events – fostering an effective implementation
of
the 2023-2030 IPSI Plan of Action in Taiwan”. Its main objective was to
foster an in-depth exchange of practical knowledge and on-the-ground
experiences
between Taiwan’s IPSI members and effectively implement the five strategic
objectives of IPSI
Plan of Action (2023-2030) island-wide: (I) knowledge co-production,
management, and uptake; (II) institutional frameworks and capacity
development;
(III) area-based conservation measures, (IV) ecosystem restoration, and (V)
sustainable value chain development.
2024 Taiwan IPSI Members Annual Exchange took place
on 30-31 May as a two-day outdoor and indoor workshop focused on the theme
“Next
stop - Biocultural Diversity: Satoyama art and craft for conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity in SEPLS”. The event featured visits to
coastal
SEPLS (Xinshe and Gangkou Villages, Fengbin Township) and shallow mountain
SEPL
(Luoshan Village, Fuli Township and Nan’An Tribe, Zhuoxi Township) of Hualien
County. Community-based interpretation in SEPLS, Satoyama art and craft
exhibition, and DIY activities were the highlights of the event. In addition
to
being the first ever outdoor annual exchange, this event was also the first
time
for Taiwan IPSI members to look at the conservation and sustainable use
efforts
from the perspective of biocultural diversity.
The 2024 annual exchange event was made even more
special by participation of the distinguished Satoyama guests from Japan: Dr.
Maiko Nishi – a Research Fellow at the United Nations University Institute for
the Advanced Study of Sustainability and Mr. Koji Miwa – a Policy Researcher
at
the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. They shared their insights
and knowledge during community visits and gave presentations about the
International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative and the Satoyama
Development Mechanism. On 1-2 June, Dr. Maiko Nishi and Mr. Koji Miwa
continued
their Taiwan journey and visited Saisiyat community in Nanzhuang Township,
Miaoli County to learn more about another IPSI collaborative activity: “Implementing
the Satoyama Initiative to promote sustainable development within the
Saisiyat
tribal community".
2024 IPSI Collaborative Activity in photos:
Dr. Maiko Nishi (left) and Mr. Koji Miwa (right) attending
2024 Taiwan IPSI
Members Annual Exchange (Image source: @ScapesLab, 2024 ©)
September 2024 | From resilience assessment to adaptive
co-management to
biodiversity conservation in Taiwan’s SEPLS – “RAWs-to-ACM-to-TEN” Strategic
Training Workshop
In June 2022
Issue of
Taiwan Satoyama News, we introduced to our readers the first nation-wide
assessment of social-ecological resilience in Taiwan’s SEPLS: from identifying
local issues to fostering adaptive co-management. This long-term project was
initiated in 2020 by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and National
Dong Hwa University (TPSI-East regional exchange base) as a part of
the 2020
Satoyama Development Mechanism project and supported by TPSI-South,
North,
and West regional exchange bases. Two phases of the project have been
successfully implemented since then - phase I in 2020-2022 and phase II in
2023-2024. They resulted in a complete assessment of resilience in 16 SEPLS
around the island (Figure 4).
The initial goal of the project was to understand
the state of resilience in Taiwan’s SEPLS by identifying environmental and
socio-economic risks and resources and relevant priority issues in SEPLS
communities. Resilience assessment workshops, dubbed RAWs for short, served
this
purpose. Once RAWs were completed, analysis and integration of their results
into adaptive co-management (ACM) in SEPLS was the next goal. Development of
action plans, engagement of public and private actors, and setting up of
multi-stakeholder partnerships were the key components of this RAWs-to-ACM
process. Moreover, over the years, RAWs-to-ACM positioned themselves as an
effective monitoring and evaluation tool for Taiwan Ecological Network –
Taiwan’s main conservation policy.
This is why, in September 2024, the Forestry and
Nature Conservation Agency and National Dong Hwa University organized a
two-day
(online and in-person) “RAWs-to-ACM-to-TEN” strategic training workshop that
brought together resilient SEPLS communities, staff from the eight branches of
the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, RAWs-to-ACM facilitators, and
four
regional exchange bases of TPSI. In addition to following up on the progress
to
date, it allowed the participants to brainstorm on such topics as:
understanding
the “spatial” role of SEPLS communities within Taiwan Ecological Network;
aligning priority issues of SEPLS communities with the objectives and
strategic
action tasks of Taiwan Ecological Network; and exploring ways to enhance
biodiversity monitoring in Taiwan’s SEPLS, including engagement with citizen
science and community-based monitoring.
As the second phase of Taiwan Ecological Network wraps up in 2025
and the third phase begins in 2026 (2026-2029), RAWs-to-ACM-to TEN will
continue
to play an important role in timely reflecting local priorities within the
national conservation agenda.
For more information about “RAWs-to-ACM-to-TEN” and its relevance to
biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation in Taiwan, see also
“Conservation and adaptation go hand in hand: on the role of Taiwan Ecological
Network in fostering resilient landscapes and seascapes” - our online article
in
Taiwan
Insight.
The 2024 “RAWs-to-ACM-to-TEN” strategic training workshop
in photos
(Image source: @ScapesLab, 2024 ©)
October-November 2024 | Taiwan Satoyama ambassadors at CBD
COP16 in Cali,
Colombia
2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD
COP16) convened in Cali, Colombia, on 21 October-1 November. It was regarded
by
many as both a milestone and a compass for biodiversity conservation towards
2030 as it demonstrated a truly people-centred approach to conservation. Among
its many
important decisions, CBD COP16 adopted a new Programme of Work on
Article
8(j) to strengthen the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This is a great achievement
and reason to celebrate for many members of global Satoyama community.
Taiwan Satoyama News team also actively participated in CBD COP16 and its
various side events, organised by our long-term partners: PANORAMA
Solutions for a Healthy
Planet Platform, the International Partnership for the Satoyama
Initiative, and IPBES
Task
Force on Indigenous and Local Knowledge with support from the
Biodiversity
Finance Program BIOFIN. We shared our knowledge and experiences about
integrated
landscape and seascape approaches, Taiwan Ecological Network, Community
Forestry
project, community-based biodiversity monitoring and assessment of resilience
in
SEPLS, biodiversity finance, public-private and community-government
partnerships for conservation, and many others. Below is the list of our CBD
COP16 contributions with additional links where applicable:
Taiwan Satoyama team at CBD COP16 in photos (Image source:
Forestry and
Nature Conservation Agency, 2024 ©):
More news to keep track of:
Our 2024 publications:
- “Satoyama Deep Economy: 20 Years of Community
Forestry in Taiwan” book (里山根經濟: 社區林業的知與行20年書籍) . Purchase at the National
Bookshop: https://www.govbooks.com.tw/books/141335
- Karim, P.G. and Lee, K.C. (2024). Landscape
Approaches for the 30x30 Target: Potential Applications and Practical
Recommendations. PARKS 30(2), 78-84; https://parksjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Karim-and-Lee_Short-communication_
PARKS-30.2.pdf
- Karim, P.G.; Lee, K.C.; Liao, R.Y.; Chen, M.H.
(2024). You Are My Mountain, I Am Your Community: Rebuilding Nature-Culture
Connectivity in Taiwan’s Lishan Areas. In: Sarmiento, F.O., Gunya,
A. (eds) Mountain Lexicon. Montology, vol 2. Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-64884-7_30
- 孫夏天、李光中（2024）透過里山倡議地景與海景整體取徑實現2050 人與自然和諧共生之願
景〉。國際開發援助現場季刊， 18: 10-24。https://reurl.cc/Q5m7EM
And... Zooming out
Remember to visit IPSI News webpage to learn about the latest updates from
our
international Satoyama family:
https://satoyamainitiative.org/news/
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