The Taiwan Alliance of Satoyama Innovation for Sustainability (TASIS) held its second general assembly (first term) at the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Liugui Work Station. Chaired by Professor Mei-hui Chen of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), the event drew nearly 80 members, including representatives from local tribes, academia, and the public sector. Key officials from the Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation and the Kaohsiung City Agriculture Bureau also attended to witness the collective efforts being made to protect Taiwan’s landscapes.
EXPANDING IMPACT AND INTERNATIONAL REACH
Currently boasting 145 members, the Alliance focuses on site management, local conservation, and the green economies. Chairperson Mei-hui Chen emphasized that the mission is to sustain 20 years of land cultivation and create social impact through ecological conservation and cultural heritage. Professor Kuang-chung Lee of National Dong Hwa University, who introduced the International Satoyama Initiative to Taiwan, noted that TASIS now serves as a formal bridge between communities and the public sector. The Alliance has also officially applied to the “International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative” (IPSI) to elevate Taiwan’s conservation efforts globally.
LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Representatives from various government agencies highlighted the growth of the Alliance and its role in regional ecological conservation. Rui-fen Yang (Pingtung Branch, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency) noted the rise in membership to 145, while Jui-Min Chu (Tainan Branch, Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation) discussed the importance of human-wildlife coexistence. Chih-Wang Yao of the Kaohsiung City Agriculture Bureau expressed a desire for deeper cooperation to utilize Liugui’s natural resources sustainably.
THE THREE PILLARS OF LIUGUI PRACTICE
The assembly included site visits to demonstrate how “Satoyama Capital” is being transformed into community action. The first location was the “Dodo Bird Wetland”, managed by the Kaohsiung City Laonong River Environmental Art Promotion Association. This site combines habitat maintenance with under-forest beekeeping and environmental education through its “Simple Market”. The second stop was the Shiba Luohan Mountain Natural and Cultural Association. This group has established a community-participatory governance model, training residents as professional guides and monitors of the nature reserve. The final of the three was the Southern Jin-Zuan Team Destination Management Organization Platform which is integrating resources from local government and business sectors to design eco-tourism networks that support the local “Root Economy”.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
The Alliance serves as a platform for cross-field learning and talent cultivation. By strengthening international links and interdisciplinary collaboration, TASIS aims to spread sustainable practices across Taiwan, ensuring a vision of “Prosperity for All Things and Inheritance for Generations”.
