Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract/Objectives

"In the past years or so, international attention has　focused on the natural resource degradation, declining　biodiversity, and the impact of decreasing natural　resources on the lives of the local. One effort to address　this problem has been the promotion of institutional　changes with the aim of ensuring sustainable environmental　governance. Unfortunately, very little is known about the　impact of these institutional changes on recreational camp　land use and slope land management, especially when the　changes occur back and forth between centralisation of　government control and decentralisation. While based on the　global study on institutional analysis and development,　these kinds of institutional changes have resulted in the　desired outcomes in some cases, the results have been　catastrophic in other cases. The first year of the study will use Elinor Ostrom’s　Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) and IAD-SES　framework to explore the governing dilemma and impact of　institutional changes of development and reservation at　Hsin-Chu County”s Jianshi Township. Moreover, because the　governance of natural and aboriginal resources, which　doesn't necessarily rely on a protagonist role of any　government entity, the study is also to assess how the　governments and the local respond to these institutional　changes. Drawing on resources analysis, survey data as well as indepth　case studies from policy stakeholders at Hsin-Chu　County’s aboriginal Jianshi Township. In the study,　various data-analysis methods were utilised, including　qualitative (Nvivo), quantitative, and a geographical　information systems (GIS) of land-use and land-cover　changes. According to the results, this study found that: the　government has an important decisive role; institution,　government, and resources influence each other in the　governance dilemma; institution is not clearly set up,　causing opposition and conflicts between communities and　ethnic groups; land-use is an important factor. Based on　the research results, there are following policy　implications: 1. The government should use its own　accountability to solve the governance dilemma of public　resources; 2. The government should promote the　mobilisation of community assets; 3. Empowering local　 citizens the capacity to use local knowledge; 4. Enhancing　the willingness of citizens to actively participate in the　governance; 5. Promoting sustainable partnerships. Based on　the results, this research calls attention to the possible　social impacts of governing dilemma of institutional　changes of development and reservation that redefine or　formalise access and use rights, and it describes a　approach for better harmonizing policy with local social　context and institutions. Also, we provide local　governments with policy recommendations on forestry　governance, which will effectively improve the quality of　sustainable environment decision-making."

Results/Contributions

According to the results, this study found that: the　government has an important decisive role; institution,　government, and resources influence each other in the　governance dilemma; institution is not clearly set up,　causing opposition and conflicts between communities and　ethnic groups; land-use is an important factor. Based on　the research results, there are following policy　implications: 1. The government should use its own　accountability to solve the governance dilemma of public　resources; 2. The government should promote the　mobilisation of community assets; 3. Empowering local　citizens the capacity to use local knowledge; 4. Enhancing　the willingness of citizens to actively participate in the　governance; 5. Promoting sustainable partnerships. Based on　the results, this research calls attention to the possible　social impacts of governing dilemma of institutional　changes of development and reservation that redefine or　formalise access and use rights, and it describes a　approach for better harmonizing policy with local social　context and institutions. Also, we provide local　governments with policy recommendations on forestry　governance, which will effectively improve the quality of sustainable environment decision-making.

Keywords

Institutional Analysis and DevelopmentSocial-Ecological SystemsGeographical Information SystemsInstitutional changeaboriginal Township Environmental Governance

References

1. The traditional Hakka spirit of Taiwan gives the impression of a frugal people who believe in the virtue of hard work, in their relationship with the land and in environmental stewardship. This study contrasts the ecological economic systems of Hakka and non-Hakka villages in the Lui–Tui area in southern Taiwan, and the features of and changes in the development of diverse Hakka villages in the area from the view of ecological economics through emergy analysis methods. The study found that from the 1920s to the 2010s, there were significant differences in environmental sustainability between Hakka and non-Hakka villages in the Lui–Tui area. Hakkas knew how to make good use of environmental resources and properly allocate external economic resources. There were few differences among the Hakka villages, in particular the right militia, former militia and rear militia. Over half a century, Hakkas in the Lui–Tui area used their resources more efficiently. In terms of energy usage density, there was no significant difference between Hakka and non-Hakka villages in the 1920s; however, in the 1970s non-Hakka villages had greater density than Hakka villages.

Contact Information

鄭國泰
kuotai@mx.nthu.edu.tw