December 2022 Issue (2022/2)

Taiwan Satoyama News

December Issue (2022/2)

 

SATOYAMA NEWS FROM OUR REGIONAL TPSI PARTNERS

　　The East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) is one of eight major migratory bird flight routes in the world. Located on the EAAF route, Taiwan plays an important role as a "transit area" and a "supply station". However, negative anthropogenic impacts such as construction development and pollution have led to the deterioration of environmental conditions in the area – fragmentation, degradation and even disappearance of the wetland habitat. As a result, several waterbird populations have decreased over the years.
　　The Lanyang Plain (Yilan County) is an important stopover point for the migratory birds in eastern Taiwan. Although the Lanyang River Mouth Waterbird Refuge has been designated, its geographic scope is relatively small, while human activities in the area (land reclamation, pesticide and fertilizer use, sewage discharge, and garbage brought from the upper reaches of the river) pose significant threats to the protected area. Xinnan Tiandong Rice is an agricultural enterprise that was founded by bird lovers in 2014. Its founders perceive farmlands as a unique ecosystem and waterbirds habitat as a place, which needs to be protected and restored by the power of local action.
　　The areas surrounding the Lanyang River Mouth Waterbird Refuge are mainly agricultural lands and fish farms. In the past, many birds such as sandpiper-plover and large geese used to pass through these production lands to the embankment in search of food and shelter. Over the years, however, synthetic farming, operations of fishponds and conventional field management practices during the fallow periods have led to the habitat loss and fragmentation. As a result, waterbirds could no longer use the Lanyang Plain as a "transit area" and a "supply station".
　　Xinnan Tiandong Rice agricultural enterprise came to the rescue by cooperating with farmers in Xinnan area, located on the north bank of the Lanyang River estuary. Their main areas of work have included promotion of eco-friendly farming (no pesticides and chemical fertilizers), protection of large and well-connected areas of paddy fields, and sustainable field management with the support from the guaranteed purchase system. New farmland management practices, such as control of water level, vegetation cover and fertilizer application (e.g., rice bran), have effectively improved the quantity and quality of food and shelter and thus restored habitats for the waterbirds transiting in autumn and winter.
　　During eight years of continued efforts, the area managed by Xinnan Tiandong Rice agricultural enterprise has impressively grown from 2.3 hectares in 2014 to 9 hectares in 2022. In the future, farmers will be encouraged to integrate more land to expand the conservation and production benefits of the project. Moreover, starting from 2020, in conjunction with implementation of the “Payments for Ecosystem Services” policy, Xinnan Tiandong Rice agricultural enterprise has been expanding the scope of habitat restoration to Jixin and Jinzhong villages located on the south bank of the Lanyang River estuary. By cooperating with local breeders on adjusting the time and methods of the fishponds drying phase in springtime and by controlling water levels, they have managed to create a mudflat habitat much needed for the spring migratory birds. After two years of hard work, about 7.3 hectares of fish farms have joined this waterbird-friendly cooperation project.
　　Overall, by adjusting their production patterns with the waterbird benefits in heart and mind, Xinnan Tiandong Rice agricultural enterprise has managed to not only expand the waterbirds habitat but also restore the temporal and spatial connectivity in the landscape. No doubt, these tireless "conservation by production" efforts may be seen as a tangible example of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in Taiwan.
 
　　The Leopard cat is currently classified as endangered species in Taiwan. It is mainly found in Taichung City, Miaoli and Nantou Counties. Most of their habitats are in satoyama areas, which are private lands, predominantly inhabited and cultivated by humans. Therefore, land-use change and agricultural production practices highly affect the habitats of Leopard cats in Taiwan.
　　Cultivated land in satoyama areas provides thickets, woods, abandoned grasslands, streams, and other landforms, which are suitable for their needs of Leopard cats. Camera trapping, for example, has demonstrated numerous instances of Leopard cats roaming around satoyama farmlands in search of food and shelter.
　　In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has been actively promoting environmentally friendly farming by cooperating with a number of local organisations and NGOs on conservation of protected animal species. Since 2014, Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute (TERI), MOA, and the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, MOA, have been jointly working on Leopard cat-friendly farming and eco-labelling scheme. Jhongliao Township, being a hotspot of Leopard cats on the island, was chosen as a pioneer site for this project. We expect that these awareness raising efforts and relevant economic incentives will not only help to improve the habitats of Leopard cats but will also contribute to farmers’ livelihoods. This way, it will be a win-win satoyama solution linking sustainable production, Leopard cat conservation and community well-being.

OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS JOIN AS IPSI MEMBERS: GO! GO! GO!

　　In recent years, the Agriculture Department of New Taipei City Government has been actively promoting the Satoyama Initiative in the shallow mountain areas located between the Datun Mountain and the northern coastline of New Taipei City. Zhongliao, Zhongshan and Shuxing communities of Tamsui District, Songshan community of Shimen District and Letian community of Sanzhi District have been selected as the pilot areas for such rejuvenation efforts. In 2021, New Taipei City Government officially became a member of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) with the goal of promoting sustainable rural livelihoods in shallow mountain areas.
　　Conservation of the Datun Mountain system landscape, improvement of local quality of life and development of local industries have been the key activities in recent years. Shuxing community in Tamsui District, for example, has converted from traditional tea farming to less labour-intensive tea seed oil industry, combined with experience tours and development of local brands. Zhongliao community sustainably manages local wetlands to purify water quality and maintain dragonfly restoration sites, while leasing abandoned farmlands to urban residents. Zhongshan community is rich in local history and vast landscapes. It cooperates with local schools in conducting on-site farming experience tours and promoting local agri-food curriculum. Songshan community in Shimen District is committed to revival of the century-old terraced fields by the means of traditional stone masonry method. The pride of Letian Community of Sanzhi District is its century-old Sanban Bridge connecting past and present – an important ancient road in early days and a popular tourist site today.
　　Support to environmentally friendly farming, revitalisation of SEPLS, and introduction of modern technologies, green energy and low-carbon lifestyles are key to promoting the Satoyama Initiative in semi-urban areas of New Taipei City. Wetlands restoration and maintenance as well as development of circular agriculture will play an important role in this revitalisation process. By becoming an IPSI member, the Agriculture Department of New Taipei City Government is determined to not only share the City's ideas and experiences in promoting the Satoyama Initiative, but also learn from successful lessons of other IPSI members and strive for sustainability at a local scale.
 
　　Taoyuan City is proud of its diverse landscapes and ecosystems stretching across natural, urban and rural areas and supporting the satoyama-satoumi connectivity of its people and nature. In recent years, the City’s efforts towards nature conservation and rural-urban connectivity have included restoration of 22 hectares of national wetlands, promotion of organic farming (457 hectares), mentoring of more than 800 young farmers, designating 10 recreational agricultural areas, greening and afforestation plans (11 hectares), and introduction of nutritious and safe school lunches.
　　Taoyuan City Government officially became a member of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) in July 2022 with the goal of promoting sustainable urban and rural livelihoods in line with the spirit of the Satoyama Initiative. By joining IPSI, Taoyuan City looks forward to future exchanges with other IPSI members in Taiwan and abroad – through learning from successful case studies and sharing Taoyuan’s best practices with like-minded partners.
　　In 2020, Taoyuan City produced its first Voluntary Local Review (VLR) 1.0 report by comprehensively reviewing its municipal policies against 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). In 2021, Taoyuan City Government Sustainable Development Committee was established in order to ensure continuous revision of relevant policies and evaluation indicators through meetings with various working groups. An updated Taoyuan City VLR 2.0 report was published in 2022 for the City-wide promotion of sustainable development. In the years to come, the VLR policy lessons and recommendations will continue to be an important part of promoting the Satoyama Initiative in Taoyuan City and sharing these experiences with other IPSI partners.

SDM 2022: TSE-XIN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE FOUNDATION

　　It’s our honour to share with you that the project proposal of Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation was selected for the Satoyama Development Mechanism (SDM) 2022 financial support. The SDM is one of collaborative activities of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI). Since 2013, it has served as a financing mechanism to facilitate the implementation of IPSI activities.
　　Committed to restoring the environment based on the principles of organic agriculture, Tse-Xin has been working with farmers across Taiwan for over 25 years. The SDM 2022 project site is based in Nan’An Tribe, Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County – home to an indigenous Bunun tribe living on the outskirts of Yushan National Park near Nan’An Visitor Centre. Within the natural environment surrounded by forests and rivers, local residents grow paddy rice along the river and fruit trees on hill slopes.
　　In the past, due to the impacts of colonisation and modernisation, Bunun locals were forced to migrate from the mountain areas to the foothills. It was not only Bunun’s farming practices and lifestyle that changed over the years, but also their relationship with nature – all to better suit modern ways of life and to meet external market demands. However, the satoyama wisdom of Bunun locals is still being practiced by the elderly and kept live in their home gardens. More than 20 varieties of landrace legumes can be found in Bunun home gardens, none of them available in the market. They help to protect the diversity of crops, the richness of food culture and biodiversity. In addition to traditional farming knowledge, it is also various legends, taboos, rituals, and beliefs of the indigenous Bunun people that help them maintain a friendly relationship with nature. Sadly, most young people today no longer know this traditional knowledge and wisdom.
　　By collaboration between local elders and youth, integrating traditional knowledge into school curriculum and re-introducing ecological wisdom into Nan’An SEPLS, our SDM 2022 project will aim to restore a harmonious relationship between people and nature.  

OUR INTERNATIONAL SATOYAMA FAMILY

Remember to visit IPSI Newsletter webpage to learn about the latest updates from our international Satoyama family:
IPSI Newsletter Webpage

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