Professor Chien-Chih, Chen
- ◆ Becoming a Conservation Expert
- ◆ From Biodiversity to Ecological Civilization
- ◆ Ecosystem Conservation Techniques
- ◆ Contribution to the Community
Tea Grower You-Li, Wang
Professor Chien-Chih, Chen
◆ From Biodiversity to Ecological Civilization
Initiatives shifted its concept to
Ecological Civilization.
When we asked Professor Chen about his motivation for promoting the Satoyama Initiative, he told us that the concept of biodiversity proposed by renowned biologist and conservationist Dr. Edward Osborne Wilson was what first inspired him. He believes that protecting our planet's various species is critical, and this has become his mission.
During the Earth Summit which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, E.O. Wilson, a renowned biologist and conservationist, proposed the concept of biodiversity. He suggested that preserving and protecting specific plant, animal, and ecosystem species would help to maintain overall balance.
Mr. Wilson was the first to recognize the need for a global commitment to the protection of biodiversity and proposed that a system of global environmental governance should be established. Professor Chen also shares these ideas that he believes farmers cannot protect the biodiversity environment alone. They require the support from the community and even from the government. Mr. Wilson’s proposal shifted the focus from traditional conservation models to a holistic approach.
Since then, the idea of biodiversity has shifted to encompass a wider range of terms and ideas, notably the Satoyama Initiative and the latest term, Ecological Civilization. The Satoyama Initiative is a term proposed by Japanese. It is an integrated approach to conservation which takes into account the impact of human activities on the environment. It emphasizes the importance of harmonizing human activities with nature and promoting sustainable development in rural areas. Then the term Ecological Civilization was proposed by Chinese. Ecological Civilization also focuses on protecting the environment and other species. However, it emphasizes more on how humans can develop their business in a nature-friendly way. While humans are colonizing nature, destruction isn’t the only way, and the idea of Ecological Civilization targets on how to colonize in a harmonious way. It recognizes the importance of social justice and the need to promote a more equitable distribution of resources. It proposes that human societies should strive towards a more harmonious relationship with nature, as well as with each other.
To Professor Chen, even though the terms have changed continuously, these terms all share the same goal of preserving biodiversity and promoting harmony among species. It is essential that these concepts are effectively communicated and implemented in order to ensure the protection of species and the maintenance of a harmonious world. Therefore, Professor Chen has taken on the role of the interpreter in order to translate the constantly changing concepts and terms related to protecting different species and fostering harmony in the world into language that farmers can understand and apply in the real world.