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◆ Transcript
Q1: Why are you interested in the Satoyama Initiative?
Regarding the Satoyama Initiative issue, after World War 1 and World War 2, people believed they were safe and could live a comfortable life. This led to the baby boomer generation, of which I am a part of the era. People believed there wouldn't be another war, so they aimed for a better life and started developing the areas where we now live, leading to excessive land reclamation and significant harm to nature.
In 1950, a woman named Kayson wrote a book called "Silent Spring" after observing the harm caused by excessive land reclamation and the killing of many animals. This book brought attention to the harm humans were causing to the environment and its serious consequences.
In 1970, inspired by "Silent Spring," the discipline of ecology was born, and the first "Earth Day" was celebrated in the United States.
In 1972, the United Nations held a meeting called the "Stockholm Declaration" to discuss environmental education, leading to an ecological boom. Professors who specialized in protecting the natural environment returned to Taiwan after completing their studies and brought back information about ecology.
As the study of ecology continued to develop, many theories were discussed. However, it became a trend to focus too much on famous species such as giant pandas in China, snow leopards in the Himalayas, and elephants, leading to a lot of funding being allocated to these star species. Recently, people started to realize that something was wrong and began to question the research direction of ecology. The IUCN organization held a meeting called the "Earth Summit" in 1992 and invited a professional professor named Wilson, the originator of the concept of "biodiversity," to conduct three years of research on how humans can change to implement biodiversity instead of just focusing on famous species.
During the summit, Mr. Wilson introduced the idea of conserving tropical rainforest biodiversity. Thus, a biodiversity convention was also signed by all nations. The world's perspective on conservation shifted from focusing on flagship species to preserving biodiversity, which encompasses three main elements: the preservation of species, protection of their unique and significant traits, and the environment they live in, as well as the cultural landscape they are part of.
Biodiversity also encompasses the relationship between humans, the economy, and the culture. After the 1992 Earth Summit, a renowned butterfly expert from the UK visited Taiwan for two weeks. During his visit, I was asked to host the scholar for a week and arranged for him to stay at the Meifeng Experimental Forest of National Taiwan University. I took the scholar to Hehuan Mountain to witness the local ecology.
The scholar was curious about Taiwan's butterfly processing industry, and when I failed to provide an answer, the scholar asked directly, "Why do you protect butterflies if they aren't being used commercially?" In 1992, there were no butterfly processing factories in Taiwan due to the impact of the gambling industry, but in 2002, the Convention on Biological Diversity held a meeting with a focus on "sustainable utilization."
In 2001, the conference took place during the 319 earthquakes in Japan. During the 10th Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan, Japan proposed the "Satoyama Initiative" based on their research on biodiversity.
When the Convention on Biological Diversity was first proposed, the focus was on protecting tropical rainforests, however, some experts pointed out that our understanding of tropical rainforests was limited and only resource surveys could be done. Regarding the number of species in the world, it is estimated that there are around 2 million known species to humans, but there could be up to 30 million species in total, with only a fraction of them known to us. This highlights our ignorance when it comes to biodiversity. Some scholars even predict that there could be more than 100 million species on earth, with insects accounting for a significant portion of that number.
In 2009, Japan introduced the Satoyama Initiative, which is centered around the concept of suburban hills (Satoyama) as the main area for human production. This environment is considered the closest to human life and is where the majority of agriculture and other human activities take place. From 2010 to 2020, the Satoyama Initiative was seen as the most effective way to protect biodiversity. It also emphasized the importance of supporting farmers and their livelihoods. Japan claimed that by converting paddy fields into organic, pesticide-free farms, over 4,000 species of biodiversity could be protected. The initiative was gradually implemented in Taiwan starting in 2015.
Unfortunately, China, which has a strained relationship with Japan, did not agree to the Satoyama Initiative. As a result, in 2019, the website of the Convention on Biological Diversity declared the Satoyama Initiative as a failure, as it could not address the existing problems faced by humans. Despite this, Taiwan continued to discuss the initiative, but the focus shifted towards "Ecological Civilization", which was proposed by China and is at the core of Xi Jinping's "The Belt and Road" initiative. In China, this is reflected in slogans such as "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.".
"The concept of 'Ecological Civilization' encompasses the care for animals and the emphasis on ecological conservation through eco-friendly farming. Eco-friendly farming is an organic method that promotes coexistence with living organisms, allowing farmers to earn a livelihood in a sustainable environment, and preserving the tradition of long-term harmony with nature. Although this concept is commendable, Taiwan's participation in it may pose a challenge because the country of its origin is China.
In 2019, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the stagnation of both the Satoyama Initiative and the Ecological Civilization initiative proposed by China. It was not until October 2021, when the Biodiversity Conference was held in Yunnan, China, that the initiative gained momentum again.
Yunnan is a unique region, inhabited by Tibetans in the mountains and Han Chinese in the lowlands. With a high birth rate, the population of Han Chinese is large and spreads over a vast territory. However, the people of Yunnan have a strong connection to nature due to their proximity to the natural environment. This can be seen in the murals in their temples, which remind people about the consequences of deforestation and hunting. Yunnan is a place where nature is greatly revered. That's why China has chosen to use Yunnan as the center for promoting the idea of 'Ecological Civilization'. It was at the first meeting in October of last year that the term was officially defined. The aim of 'Ecological Civilization' is to protect nature, maintain its conditions, and preserve its ecology. The concepts behind it are similar to those of the Satoyama Initiative, but with different terminology.
I have also collected a lot of information on 'Ecological Civilization' from biodiversity websites and created a Facebook group dedicated to the topic three years ago. In my retirement, I have taken the time to organize this information and set up a Chinese website to provide the public with information on 'Ecological Civilization'."
We have been working in this area for a long time and collaborating with international development efforts. We always need to connect with the international community when we undertake any initiatives. There are three major international organizations related to the environment: the United Nations, which focuses on sustainable development and promotes the SDGs; the Satoyama Initiative, which has transformed into the Ecological Civilization; and the IDCC, which is the International Climate Change Committee. They discuss the issue of global climate change and its impact on temperature.
After Taiwan announced the failure of the Satoyama Initiative, we proposed relevant countermeasures to the Council of Agriculture. In recent years, the Council of Agriculture has changed the focus of the Satoyama Initiative to a new concept called the "National Ecological Network". This means connecting all of Taiwan's farmland, communities, schools, and institutions that implement ecological conservation, organic farming, and safe brewing laws, to achieve a nationwide cross-field integration
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Q2: Are there any specific species related to the Satoyama Initiative? If we want to implement the Satoyama Initiative in our school, what should we consider?
The spirit of the Satoyama Initiative can continue, even though the Convention on Biological Diversity declared it a failure. You are very lucky to be able to study at an ecologically-friendly campus.
The area of Kang Chiao International School is located in the 500-meter camphor forest belt in Taiwan. The camphor forest belt is dominated by camphor and sac wood, and the banyan tree is a very important species in this ecosystem.
If the Satoyama Initiative is to be implemented in this area, the most common action would be to open a new road. In the past, native camphor and sac wood species were often cut down. To make this area a complete ecosystem in the future, when planting trees, it is important to choose native tree species from Taiwan, such as Mongolian Xiao, instead of exotic plants like Lantana camara."
First, we need to consider the psychological aspect of living with biodiversity. It is important to live with and protect biodiversity, as it should be at the forefront of our minds when making decisions. However, sometimes construction projects can't be avoided and in these cases, we must consider using ecological engineering methods. There are two important principles of ecological engineering: preserving biodiversity and using porous materials.
In areas with Camphor trees and Phoebe zhennan, such as your campus, biodiversity is particularly important. I often argue with the education bureau as they often prioritize environmental aesthetics over preserving biodiversity. For example, they may view a place as "disgusting and messy," but I remind them that it is a result of the diverse environment. In contrast, areas with only buildings lack biodiversity. Unfortunately, there are still people who do not understand the importance of preserving biodiversity and may immediately agree to cut down trees. However, schools are now better informed and view biodiversity as a positive attribute.
The second principle of ecological engineering is to use porous materials, such as rocks, instead of concrete walls. This allows for the passage of sunlight and creates spaces for animals like frogs and fireflies to live. Using a concrete wall would block the sunlight and lead to the death of many species.
While it is important to protect the environment, it can be difficult to avoid disturbing it. There are many different species of plants, and they often grow and spread to new areas, causing disruption. For example, in some parks, I have noticed that the only butterflies there are from the forest, not the meadow. However, if we continue to protect the forest, the meadow will disappear. In some cases, controlled fires may be necessary to allow new growth to occur.
Starting forest fires is the best conservation policy. However, such an action would also result in the extinction of many animals and plants, as well as the destruction of their habitat. Instead, coexistence protection is necessary to maintain a diverse range of species. This can be achieved by observing the animals in their environment and ensuring that they have adequate habitats, such as in school grounds. Regular monitoring of the weather and environment should also be conducted to detect any sudden disappearance of animals or fluctuations in their populations.
In 2020, a forest fire in Yangmingshan National Park resulted in the transformation of a large area into grassland. This is why Yangmingshan is also known as a grass hill. Previously, the area was known as Zhongzheng Mountain and was covered in trees. However, a retired Chinese soldier arrived in Taiwan and cut down the trees to plant Malus Doumeri, a type of barrel orange. The soldier also planted trees in the characters "Zhong (中)" and "Zheng (正)" but after the soldier's death, the plants were not taken care of and the characters eventually disappeared.
It is important to note that interfering with natural processes, such as starting forest fires, can have unintended consequences for the environment and its inhabitants.
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Q3: What is the connection between the Green Conservation Label and the Satoyama Initiative?
We continued to promote the Satoyama Initiative while Taiwan was promoting agriculture. Several European and American countries were also promoting organic farming, which is about using methods that are kind to the environment and avoiding the use of pesticides. However, many people do not like this concept. At the same time, the topic of food security was also being discussed. Many people were also aware of Japan's agri-food education. We cannot change the phrase "agri-food education" because some governments are now promoting it. People keep creating new terms for the same idea, and it only causes confusion.
In Germany, 70% of farmers practice organic farming without using chemicals. The world is now moving towards organic farming due to the excessive use of chemicals in crops. This is why Taiwan is also promoting organic agriculture. However, to start organic farming, a license is required. The soil is tested annually for three years to check for pesticides. If the soil is pesticide-free and considered organic, the license is granted. Some governments offer financial assistance for the first time to cover the expenses of organic farming, as it can be expensive."
There is a tea grower I am familiar with. He has been practicing organic farming for 40 years and received an organic certification after his younger brother passed away due to pesticide exposure. His tea production is consistent, but one day he told me, "Professor, I don't want to do the organic certification anymore." I didn't ask why, as I already knew, and I simply replied, "Okay, you don't have to get certified." The most valuable thing in the world is mutual trust between producers and consumers. For instance, Homemakers Union Consumers Cooperation takes its members to visit a farmer's home, where the farmer keeps his house and crops organic and pesticide-free. If the customer and producer become good friends, there's no need for certification. This is the perfect state where both the producer and consumer are grateful to each other. The food we eat can only be verified through testing, but it doesn't necessarily mean farmers will get more profits or consumers will be able to buy food at cheaper prices. He believes that the biggest tragedy in Taiwan is the question of food safety, which depends on tests and experiments. Therefore, the Council of Agriculture proposed a green label to confirm the well-being of the species in the environment. For example, if a farmer turns rice fields into caltrop fields for Pheasant-tailed Jacanas or grows organic tea for the sake of Taiwan blue magpies, they can apply for the green label together. The Green Conservation Label means the farmer is friendly to the environment and all living things. The famous species mentioned also become part of the symbols of the label.
I was once responsible for checking the resources of Jian-An Elementary School during a community design project and found out that the most important resource was their graveyard. I suggested using graves as resources, but people were afraid of graves. However, there are many foreign countries that have received government funding to turn graveyards into parks, and they can learn from those examples. Another example is Ankeng Elementary School. It is located in a community full of tea growers and fireflies, so they lead firefly activities. The habitat of the fireflies is in the tea field in Ankeng. After I finished conducting the inventory, I suggested to them that they should call their tea "Huo-Jin-Gu Tea". The name "Huo-Jin-Gu'' means fireflies in Taiwanese. It was me who proposed the idea, and they are now in the process of registering it as a trademark. The tea is related to fireflies, and it can be certified with the Green Conservation Label.
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Q4: Are there any cases of coexistence between man and nature that can be investigated?
There are several examples of successful coexistence between humans and nature. In Taiwan, there are organic farms in Pinglin that serve as great examples. One such farm is Yiguang Village in Pinglin, where the Sheng-Quan Tea Field is located. The owner, Wang You-Li, has not used pesticides in his garden for 40 years, and he has a variety of wildlife, including Emerald green tree frogs, living in the garden. Another great example is the Fuxing Farm in Hualien, which is run by 20 joint stockholders. They rent 6 hectares of land from Taiwan Sugar Corporation and are experimenting with ways to coexist with wildlife, such as migratory birds and wild animals. The manager of the farm even went to Indonesia to study how rice is grown there and how humans coexist with wildlife.
In general, there is a growing trend towards organic farming in Taiwan, and these farms serve as good examples of how humans and nature can coexist. The owner of the Shengquan Tea Garden, Wang Youlin, is particularly knowledgeable about ecology and is even better at discussing it than Professor Chen himself. In the tea field, Wang only does minimal weeding and composts after weeding is done. He is careful to preserve wildlife, such as the Micromys, and even uses the mouse's nest as a teaching tool. The tea garden serves as a great learning environment, where Professor Yang Yu-Ru can teach about frogs and Professor Chen can teach entomology.