The documentary series, “A Journey to the Heart of Satoyama” (里山心旅程), is launching on October 31st, offering Taiwan its first dedicated look at the Satoyama Initiative. The project seeks to promote the harmonious coexistence of people and nature, co-prosperity in ecology and production, and the preservation of traditional wisdom. The series aims to bring the multifaceted value of society, ecology, and production to a wider audience.
A press conference to mark the program’s launch was held on October 29th at the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA). The event was attended by numerous stakeholders and dignitaries, including members of the Control Yuan, officials from the Ministry of Culture, the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Tourism Administration, local government leaders, and representatives from Indigenous Television. Community and tribal leaders from the filming locations in Southern and Eastern Taiwan also gathered to celebrate this milestone, collectively showcasing the national effort to maintain the beauty and sustainable value of Taiwan’s Satoyama (mountain areas) and Satoumi (coastal areas).
The program, officially titled “The Flavor of the Tribe’s Catch 2 – A Journey to the Heart of Satoyama”, was guided by Professor Mei-Hui Chen and developed with support from the Ministry of Culture and the Council of Indigenous Peoples. Twelve benchmark communities and indigenous tribes across Southern Taiwan participated in the filming, and the production process spanned nearly two years. The series delves into local sustainable development and cultural revitalization, capturing the moving stories of residents dedicated to protecting their land and cultural heritage. The series will be broadcast across eleven media platforms, embodying the spirit that “the more local, the more international” as it shares Taiwan’s experience with the global Satoyama Initiative.
Professor Chen’s team, in partnership with the FANCA and other public agencies, has spent over two decades fostering community forestry and the Satoyama concept, creating a uniquely Taiwanese “Deep Economy”. Control Yuan Member Shih Chi-Fang emphasized the importance of this “Satoyama spirit” in encouraging young people to return home by creating sustainable livelihoods. Community leaders, like those from Shiba Luohan Mountain and the Yong-An Community, shared their success stories, highlighting how community-led efforts can lead to environmental protection and economic revitalization, even transforming a formerly poor village into a certified environmental education center. The series invites viewers to not only appreciate Taiwan’s breathtaking landscapes but also to witness profound stories of conservation, from protecting migratory Grey-faced Buzzards and returning Sika Deer to the land, to the resilience of women rebuilding cultural industries post-disaster. Hosted by Tseng Shu-Chin, the program aims to inspire a national commitment to loving the land and protecting its ecology.
