Walking into Wugong Community---the Starting Point of Community Talent Program and the Local Practices of the Satoyama Initiative

#CommunityEcoEducation #SatoyamaIntiantive #USR #PuliTownshipWugongCommunity

Embracing Visions and Engaging with Wugong Community 

National Chi Nan University College of Science and Technology has promoted its USR project "Sustainability Promotion and Leadership Program" to deeply embrace the core value of the Satoyama Initiative. The best place to carry out this project was no other than our very own community. We know by heart that biodiversity conservation, the Satoyama Initiative, resource surveying, ecological preservation, environmental ethics, green agriculture, and the Green Conservation Label are all essential parts of a community eco-education system. Only through the participation of community members could we enrich their environmental awareness, ethical values, and ecological expertise. This, in effect, would develop their environmental consciousness along with their ability to investigate, analyze, plan, and implement conservation actions. Equipped with this mindset and skillset, community members could then practice responsible, eco-friendly behavior and promote the sustainable development of their community’s ecology, economy, and culture. We have emphasized the importance of teachings that center on the residents and their community, particularly by having community members participate and jointly determine the goals, content, and teaching methods of our project. These have been our core values. 

We have also taken the international partnership network of the Satoyama Initiative as a point of reference and laid out a series of strategically planned activities such as media exposure, workshops, and conferences to promote the exchange of theoretical and practical experiences. Through these activities, we hope to train practitioners and their abilities. At the same time, we have encouraged the implementation of the "Think Global, Act Local" mindset through practical case studies guided by the complete framework of the Satoyama Initiative.

The College of Science and Technology's USR project has invested efforts in the Wugong Community in Puli Township since 2017 and is now in its fifth year. The university and community have joined hands through dialogue and collaborative efforts. Together, we have raised the environmental awareness and sensitivity of community members, developed professional species identification, surveying, and habitat creation and improvement skills, and conducted outreach and interpretive activities, all while building a solid partnership with the community. The results of the USR project have made Wugong Community a more sustainable place. 

A Diverse Ecosystem and Common Satoyama Goals

The Wugong Community in Puli Township is a rural village with a diverse population of ethnic groups. Except for a few flat areas, most of the community’s landscape consists of densely forested mountains and rivers. Wugonglun Mountain, Jiu Wu Jie Yue Mountain, Mei River, Xian Xi, and the Liyutan Wetlands boast a rich variety of flora and fauna. To date, the number of identified species include approximately 190 species of butterflies, 30 species of dragonflies, 80 species of wild birds, 13 species of aquatic animals, and 370 species of wild plants. 

In 2017, the USR team reached out to Mrs. Huang Mei Yu, the village chief and the executive of the Wugong Community Development Association, to learn of her ideas on sustainable development and how she envisioned the future of the community. After we explored, negotiated, brainstormed, and held local orientations to dialogue and interact with members of the community, we established the following common work goals:

1. With a focus on surveys of landscape and ecological resources, conservation, and development, the USR team would conduct community staffing training, ecological resource surveys, and environmentally-sustainable management planning.

2. Trainees would be encouraged to participate in long-term ecological surveys and ecological interpretation in the community. They were also encouraged to conduct environmental creations and local practices of the Satoyama spirit.

3. To implement the goals stated in the Convention on Biological Diversity and help local communities participate in biodiversity conservation, thus fulfilling the university's social responsibility.

Empowering and Utilizing Community Talent to Make a Difference

(1) Empowering Talent—Ecological Surveying and Eco-tour Guide Training

As part of the USR project in 2017, a preliminary-level 10-day, 60-hour ecological training program was conducted to develop environmental awareness and sensitivity, instruct basic ecological knowledge, and instill environmental values and eco-friendly mindsets. A total of 25 students completed the program and passed evaluation. 

For the 2018 USR project, an advanced four-day, 24-hour training program was offered. The training program focused on further developing professional skills for proper species identification and survey interpretation, the participation and planning of conservation actions, and the ability to solve environmental issues. A total of 14 students completed the program and passed evaluation. Coordinated efforts were made to encourage the students to participate in an eco-investigation and tour guide training course in 2018 through 2020. The training plan was subsidized by the National Changhua Living Arts Center and the Forestry Bureau and held by the Taomi Agricultural Leisure Area and Newhomeland Foundation.

 (2) Utilizing Talents—Investing in Eco-surveying and Habitat Creation

Trainees with different levels of training were assigned to either join the Puli Ecological Survey Team or serve as survey Eco-tour guides in Wugong Community. The trainees have readily participated in regular monthly surveys on butterflies and dragonflies. They have also enthusiastically participated in habitat creation efforts for butterfly/hydrophytes and served as tour guides in Maple Park, Wugong Community Center, and Liyutan. They have all truly made great contributions to biodiversity conservation and the local practice of the Satoyama Initiative.

(3) Making Influences: Driving the Development of Community 

 The trainees and community leaders of all levels of training have come to understand biodiversity conservation and the spirit of Satoyama. They are ready to make a difference whenever the opportunity arises, taking ecological issues into account in all community affairs and taking the initiative to plan and conduct various ecological tours and promotion activities. All of their hard work has and will continue to make long-term contributions to the community. 

A Word from Community Planner Su Huei Ling: Documenting Beautiful Butterflies for My Hometown

I was born here in Wugong Community, Puli. After obtaining my master's degree, I returned home to give back to my hometown. Thanks to the help of Executive Huang, I was able to become a community planner here. This job has allowed me to better understand the ecology of the community.

On September 17, 2017, Mr. Peng Kuo Tong and Ms. Chu Mei Lan, the instructors of National Chi Nan University's USR project, opened an eco-talent training program in the community. Being the youngest participant, I naturally became the center of the attention of all the other trainees. During that time, I constantly questioned myself, wondering if this was the right path for me. Luckily, I had my mentor and classmates to encourage me along the way and help me to grow and become the person I am today. Shout out to my dear classmates, Lin Shiu Chong, Shiao Shi Tsai, Huang Yue Ying, Chen Tsui Chien, and Tseng Shu Rei. 

After these four years of learning, what moved me the most was the two years I spent with five other students to conduct a comprehensive survey of the butterflies in Wugonglun Mountain, with wonderful results. We persevered to the end, all for the sake of finding out how many species of butterflies lived on that mountain. I want to thank the USR team of NCNU, Executive Huang, Mr. Peng, Ms. Chu, and all of those who worked alongside the Wugong Community Development Association, as they accompanied us through the ups and downs. 

Contact: Wugong Community Development Association

No. 249, Sec. 1, Zhongshan Rd., Puli Township, Nantou County 

049-2984622