IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet
Basic Information
Title of case study

Green Conservation Program: A System for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable
Agriculture in Taiwan
Submitting IPSI member organization(s)Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation
Other contributing organization(s)Author(s) and affiliation(s)Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation
Format of case study
Manuscript
Language
EnglishKeywords
farmers, sustainable, agriculture, biodiversity, conservation, system
Date of submission
Web link
www.toaf.org.tw (Chinese), www.toaf.org.tw/en (English)

Geographical Information
Country
Chinese TaipeiLocation(s)Guantian DistrictLongitude/latitude or Google Maps link
Ecosystem(s)ForestGrassland
AgriculturalX
In-land waterX
CoastalDryland
Mountain
Urban/peri-urban
Other (Please specify)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area
Guantian is a rural agricultural district in southern Taiwan well known for its Chinese water chestnut, which iscultivated for its edible tubers. Many resident and migratory birds, especially the rare pheasant-tailed jacana
depend on flooded pastures, rice fields, lowland ponds, and marshes with floating aquatic vegetation forsurvival.
Description of human-nature interactions in the area
Farmers widely cultivate Chinese water chestnut and other edible aquatic plants in fields which support many
resident and migratory birds, especially the rare pheasant-tailed jacana. However, the negative environmental
effects of traditional farming have caused dramatic loss of natural habitats and ongoing decline of birdpopulations.

Contents
StatusOngoing
Period2009-present
Rationale
The negative environmental effects of traditional farming have caused dramatic loss of natural habitats andongoing decline of bird populations. By 2009, habitat destruction and degradation, disturbance of breedingareas, and poisoning from pesticides threatened the survival of many native bird species, particularly jacanas.
Objectives
Biodiversity conservation is a primary focus of the Green Conservation program, and this emphasis is reflectedin the sustainability standards regarding environmental protection. In addition to promoting conservation
through the standards, program facilitators provide training on biodiversity-related topics for farmers who arepreparing for certification or have already achieved certification.
Activities and/or practices employed

Educating farmers on sustainability; conducting ground-level studies of the pheasant-tailed jacana; holding
meetings with local officials; promoting bird-friendly agricultural practices to help protect local birds that
suffered drastic population decline.
Results

A study on jacana population in Guantian found the abundance of jacanas increased from 275 in 2009 toapproximately 1,272 by 2016. Total land under certified crops multiplied, with 3 hectares of production area
compared to nearly 40 hectares from 2011 to 2016. Farmers also grew from 7 to 25 during this period.
Lessons learned
Data reveal the significance of restored natural ecosystem for protecting rare species and providing habitats fora diverse array of plants and animals. Strategically focusing efforts on these species also helped conserve themany other species which share their habitats and or are vulnerable to the same threats.
Key messages
Environmentally friendly farming increases the quantity and quality of natural habitats in agriculturallandscapes, and helps sustain populations of native species. By training farmers to adopt sustainable practices,rural communities are able to conserve biodiveristy and promote ecosystem resilience.
Relationship to other IPSI activities
Funding

Contributions to Global Agendas
The table below shows based on the self-evaluation by author(s).  and  indicates the “direct” or “indirect” contributions to thefollowing global agendas respectively to which the work described in this case study contributes to.

CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets (https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/)
Strategic Goal A
Strategic Goal BStrategic Goal CStrategic Goal DStrategic Goal EUN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs)
