Taijiang National ParkTaijiang National Park

Located at the wetlands of the intersection of the river and the sea, Taijiang, which is the hometown of Taiwan's milkfish aquaculture and also an important spot for Taiwan's aquaculture industry in modern times, has nurtured a long aquaculture for 400 years. According to the research plan commissioned by academic institutions in recent years, it has been confirmed that the local traditional flat milkfish ground (about 15 to 40 cm water-depth) farming model taking a rest in wintertime is an important reason for the achievement of the Taijiang area being the largest habitat in the global population of black-faced spoonbills. In order to maintain this traditional local culture of "harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature", since 2011, Taijiang National Park Administration (hereinafter referred to as Taijiang Office) has been lead-promoting the eco-friendly fishponds construction plan and the demonstration production of friendly aquatic "Black-faced Spoonbill" products, beginning to consider and try out conservation strategies from "humans" and "fish ponds". Only by implementing a win-win conservation strategy connecting the local aquiculture and the ecology of migratory birds one can create a friendly winter-migratory-bird habitat which uses sustainable resources.

In recent years, various locals have started to take into account the relationship between wildlife and human industries, and the government and organizations provide diversified measures such as agriculture loss compensation resulting from wildlife damage, conservation incentives and ecological service payment, etc. Therefore, Taijiang Office held a seminar on eco-friendly habitat creation and conservation strategies on October 27, 2021, and invited VIPs from Kenting National Park Headquarters, the Environmental Ethics Foundation of Taiwan and the Pheasant-tailed Jacana Eco-Educational Nature Park to share the eco-friendly rewards and experiences of animal habitat conservation for animals like sika deer, sandpiper family, migrant waterfowls and pheasants, and to compare and discuss with the Taijiang Office the eco-friendly habitat creation strategy and ecological service allowance of the black-faced spoonbill for many years. In the afternoon, the session further discussed how to help farmers and fishermen to carry out industrial value-added counseling, and invited VIPs such as the Urban and Rural Development Branch of the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation, the Taiwan Ocean Conservation and Fisheries Sustainability Foundation and the founder of Taiwan BlueMagpie Tea to share the concept of eco-friendly labels such as Wetland of Importance marks, Chinese leopard cat friendly agricultural labels, Green Conservation marks, Profish Ecolabel, and brand management experience, which were also compared with the Black-faced Spoonbill Brand trademark of the Office. It is hoped that the participants will have a comprehensive understanding and exchange of views on the promotion mechanisms, supporting measures and environmental responsibility issues related to the creation of eco-friendly habitats.

According to Taijiang Office, after several years of continuous efforts, three fishermen in the Taijiang area have provided 10.8-hectare fishponds to become partners of eco-friendly habitat creation in 2020 and cooperated with the implementation of friendly strategies such as lowering water levels to successfully attract black-faced spoonbills and other water birds to forge. In this year (2021), the applications for joining the eco-friendly habitat creation partners have increased to 12 fishermen, and the fishpond area has increased to 100 hectares. After deliberation by an advisory panel of scholars and experts, 52.45 hectares were selected to join the fishpond partners. To promote the creation of eco-friendly habitats in a sustainable manner, Taijiang Office hopes that through this seminar, relevant NGOs, experts and scholars, and Taiwanese authorities will jointly explore the feasibility of promotion of eco-friendly habitat creation and friendly labels, and give specific policy suggestions on the construction of possible innovative business models. It is hoped that through the promotion of conservation brands and labels, we can actively present every local characteristic of traditional industries in Taiwan, and create a coexistence and co-prosperity between the industry and ecological environment.

From now until October 20, in compliance with the epidemic prevention measures, the number of on-site participants is limited to 50, and there is no limit to online participation. The relevant agenda is as follows:

Agenda:

Time: October 27, 2021 (Wed) 9:00-16:00

Venue: Screening Room 1, Visitor Center, Taijiang National Park (118, Sicao Avenue, Annan District, Tainan City)