Amid rising discussions in recent years on reviving the economic value of forestry, the feasibility of community forestry has reached a stage where concrete implementation and policy frameworks can be explored. NCCU’s Office of University Social Responsibility (USR) organized the “Community Forestry Forum – Envisioning a New Future for Forestry” through its projects “Satoyama in the Urban Fringe” and “Indigenous Culture and Industry.” The forum gathered experts, local residents, and bamboo and timber industry professionals to discuss the necessary conditions and constraints for advancing community forestry in practice.
The event opened with remarks from USR Deputy Executive Director and Department of Land Economics professor Tai Hsiu-Hsiung, who highlighted the forum’s role as a platform for cross-sector dialogue. As the keynote speaker, Professor Chiu Chi-Jung of National Taiwan University’s School of Forestry and Resource Conservation shared insights from the perspectives of bamboo processing, environmental conservation, and sustainable development. He emphasized how technological innovation can enhance the bamboo and timber industry and expressed academia’s enthusiasm to engage in practical community forestry efforts, offering participants a broader vision for the industry’s future.
One major theme of the forum focused on “Perspectives on Forestry and the Conditions for Community-Based Forestry.” Jianshi Township Mayor Yuntianbao spoke from a local livelihood perspective, pointing out that improving living conditions is the community’s foremost concern. Pastor Omi Wilang of the Fuxing District Presbyterian Church further emphasized the importance of empowering local knowledge of the mountains, advocating for returning the interpretive authority over industry development to Indigenous communities. Professor Yen Tian-Ming from National Chung Hsing University discussed the sustainable value of Makino bamboo from a forest management standpoint, and proposed improvements to the current logging ban compensation policy. In response, Director Hsia Jung-Sheng of the Hsinchu Forest District Office outlined the office’s achievements in promoting community forestry since the 1990s and reaffirmed the government's continued support in fostering talent and maximizing resource value.
The second major theme addressed the people involved in the community forestry process—specifically, the roles and relationships among stakeholders. Acting Chair of NCCU’s Department of Ethnology, Prof. Kuan Ta-Wei, reflected on the concept of “local regeneration,” emphasizing the need to acknowledge past “local traumas” and development histories. Principal Hsu Jung-Chun of Jiaxing Elementary School in Jianshi Township spoke from the perspective of Indigenous communities, stressing the importance of expanding imagination around local bamboo industry development. Luju, Secretary-General of the Bamboo Industry Development Association from Kapu Village in Fuxing District, shared his collaboration experience with the Forest District Office, highlighting how joint forest thinning projects enhanced local livelihoods. Professor Chen Chien-Wen from National Taipei University of Technology drew upon his legal background to explore solutions to land and environmental challenges facing community forestry via legal pathways. Finally, Yeh Chang-Cheng, Head of Agriculture at the Jianshi Township Office, discussed how the decline in raw bamboo prices impacts local livelihoods and presented the challenges grassroots governments face in developing regional industries.
In addition to the two main themes, the forum also included interactive Q&A sessions with bamboo and timber industry stakeholders. For those interested in the forum’s discussions, please refer to the video links below.
