IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet
Basic Information
Title of case study (should be concise and within approximately 25 words)
Conserving the giant water bug (Lethocerus indicus) by eco-friendly farming
Submitting IPSI member organization(s)Observer Ecological Consultant Company
Other contributing organization(s) (IPSI members and/or non-members)

Author(s) and affiliation(s)Wang, Zheng-An and Chen, Po-Hao, Observer Ecological Consultant
Format of case study (manuscript or audiovisual) Manuscript
Language
Keywords (3-5 key concepts included in the case study)
Giant water bug, Lethocerus indicus, eco-friendly farming
Date of submission (or update, if this is an update of an existing case study)
23 May 2018
Web link (of the case study or lead organization if
http://www.observer.com.tw/

Englishavailable for more information)

Geographical Information
Country (where site(s) or activities described in the case study are located – can be multiple, or even “global”)
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Location(s) (within the country or countries – leave blank if specific location(s) cannot be identified)Miaoli County
Longitude/latitude or Google Maps link (if location is identified)
https://www.google.com/maps/@24.5186238,120.7247178,13z
Ecosystem(s) (please place an “x” in all appropriate boxes)
Forestx
Grassland
Agriculturalx
In-land waterx
CoastalDryland
Mountain
Urban/peri-urban
Other (Please specify)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area (within 50 words)
The geographic climate zone is central-western, with wet summers and dry winters. The Hakka people
terraced fields and created ponds to cultivate rice in the valleys. They also harvested crops such aslemongrass in hillside fields.
Description of human-nature interactions in the area (land-use, traditional resource management practices etc. – within 50words)

Over the past decade, most of the paddy fields in the area were abandoned, due to shortage of irrigationwater supplies and manpower in the steep hills. Only a few terraced fields are still cultivated, whilehillside fields have gradually returned to acacia forests or mixed forests of bamboo and broad-leavedtrees.

Contents
Status (“ongoing” or “completed”)
Ongoing
Period (MM/YY to MM/YY)
05/2012 Rationale (why activities or policies described, or information shared in the case study are needed – within 50 words)
The giant water bug (Lethocerus indicus) is a species native to Taiwan, which is facing extinction owing toenvironmental change. We found the insect and eggs in a pond next to a paddy field in Tongxiao
Township, Miaoli County.
Objectives (goals of activities or policies described, or of producing the case study – within 50 words)
To conserve this rare water bug, we encouraged the farmers to apply eco-friendly farming methods bycontract farming and community support.
Activities and/or practices employed (within 50 words)

Many practices are being conducted to achieve sustainable development and the Satoyama Initiative in
local agricultural production, such as monitoring the leopard cat and the small Indian civet, improving
pond quality as a habitat for the giant water bug, and recovering rare plants along footpaths between
paddy fields.
Results (within 50 words)
Through inherited traditional farming wisdom and the introduction of modern techniques, the TianBie
Rice Project stabilized the quality and yield of the local products, and ensured the income of the farmers.
We also monitored the biodiversity in the field, and successfully practiced conservation projects.
Lessons learned (factors in success or failure, challenges and opportunities – within 40 words)
We could use eco-friendly farming methods to secure ecosystem services. By connecting farmers in thecountryside with customers in the urban areas, we strived to build a win-win situation system. We
ensured farmer’s income by providing contract farming fees that depended on the farm area, rather thanits productivity.
Key messages (within 40 words)
We hope that TianBei Rice could be an example for the Satoyama Initiative in Tongxiao, to carry outtransformation of nature resource management in the area.
Relationship to other IPSI activities (if the case study is related to any other IPSI collaborative activities, case studies, etc.)
Funding (any relevant information about funding of activities or projects described in the case study)

Contributions to Global Agendas
CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets (https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/)
The table below shows based on the self-evaluation by author(s).  and  indicates the “direct” or “indirect” contributions to theCBD’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets respectively to which the work described in this case study contributes to.

Strategic Goal AStrategic Goal C

Strategic Goal B

Strategic Goal D

Strategic Goal EUN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs)
The table below shows based on the self-evaluation by author(s).  and  indicates the “direct” or “indirect” contributions to theSDGs respectively to which the work described in this case study contributes to.
