To make proper use of the Tsou Tribe's traditional wisdom on hunting ground management and hunting management, as well as to jointly manage the wildlife resources of the state-owned forests, the Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau is actively promoting the Tsou Tribe's autonomous hunting self-management. Taiwan's first ethnic-based hunter association, the "Chiayi County Tsou Hunter Association", under the guidance of the Chiayi Forest District Office, conducted hunter qualification training and assessment according to the Alishan Tsou Tribe Hunting Autonomous and Self-Regulated Pact. On March 20, 2019, witnessed by Alishan Township Chief Du Li-quan, Chiayi County Councilor Wu Qing-shan, and Director Li Zhi-min of the Fenchihu Workstation of the Chiayi Forest District Office, 89 hunters were issued with the hunter permit. This means that for the Tsou Tribe's hunting management, they will be able to follow the tribal hunting "einu" and independently manage the wildlife resources sustainably, for which the first firm step has already been taken. It can serve as an indicator for the Forestry Bureau's promotion of the autonomous hunting management policy of the indigenous people.
Tsou Tribe and the Chiayi Forest District Office Working Together to Promote Sustainable Wildlife Resources
In October 2006, the "Tsou Tribe Ecological Tourism and Nature Conservation Advisory Committee of the Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture" was set up as a communication platform for the opinions of the Tsou people. The Indigenous people was also provided with the procurement of harvested forest by-products (such as aiyu seeds) to promote tribal employment opportunities and economic development. Timber from thinning is also provided for the tribe to construct traditional cultural buildings or to organize related cooperation projects, in order to pass down the traditional tribal crafts and showcase tribal features. The execution of other operations is based on the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards, and actively inform the tribal communities about their legal and habitual rights with regards to forest-related resources, land ownership, and traditional grounds.
Hunting management is the traditional wisdom of the Tsou people, which includes ecological conservation and sustainable use. Therefore, since 2014, the Chiayi Forest District Office has jointly promoted the autonomous management of hunting with the National Dong Hwa University and the Tsou Tribe. This includes the investigation and monitoring of hunted species numbers, hunting ground investigation, and assistance for the application for hunting that is legal and meets the needs of traditional culture, in order to actively protect the rights and interests of the traditional Tsou hunting culture, and enable the forest wildlife resources to be used sustainably.
Taiwan's first ethnic-based hunter association - "Chiayi County Tsou Hunter Association", is a Tsou tribal internal unit for the execution of hunting management. Its purpose is to pass down the hunting "einu" (traditional hunting habits, hunting etiquette, and ethics and moral guidelines), self-regulated protection of the traditional hunting grounds and the wildlife resources within, as well as the sacred balance and harmony of the natural environmental diversity. Under the guidance of the Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau and with the consensus of the Tsou hunters, the Alishan Tsou Tribe Hunting Autonomous and Self-Regulated Pact was established. Members are required to pass the assessment of the association and meet the requirements of traditional hunting culture, hunting techniques, and ecological protection in order to obtain the hunter permit and hunt in the area of which the application has been legally approved by the association.
The issue of hunter permits by the Chiayi County Tsou Hunter Association shows the Tsou Tribe's determination for the hunting culture and ecological conservation, and to pass down the tribal hunting culture and the rules of coexistence with nature. It serves as an important milestone for the cooperation between the Chiayi Forest District Office and the Tsou people in the promotion of the Tsou Tribe's autonomous hunting self-management.
Partnership for Sustainable Forests
According to the Chiayi Forest District Office, it has already held many internal meetings with the Tsou Tribe, and together with the Tsou Tribe they will be promoting many important operations, such as reporting on hunting information and assisting with wildlife population monitoring. In addition, the Chiayi Forest District Office is also actively undertaking the linking of government agencies with the Tsou people in the hunting affairs, to assist the Tsou and government agencies in the signing of the autonomous hunting self-management administrative contracts. It is hoped that this partnership will achieve the goal of protecting the traditional hunting culture and the sustainability of the wildlife community. In addition, as early as October 2006, the "Tsou Tribe Ecological Tourism and Nature Conservation Advisory Committee of the Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture" was set up as a communication platform for the opinions of the Tsou people. The Indigenous people was also provided with the procurement of harvested forest by-products (such as aiyu seeds) to promote tribal employment opportunities and economic development. Timber from thinning is also provided for the tribe to construct traditional cultural buildings or to organize related cooperation projects, in order to pass down the traditional tribal crafts and showcase tribal features. The execution of other operations is based on the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards, and actively inform the tribal communities about their legal and habitual rights with regards to forest-related resources, land ownership, and traditional grounds.
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