Implementation of TPSI from 2014-2017 was comprised of two main stages: (1) pilot implementation phase of 2014-2015 when NDHU was commissioned by the Forestry Bureau to lay out the foundation of TPSI, and (2) extension implementation phase of 2016-2017 when the Forestry Bureau and NDHU partnered to implement a two-year-long TPSI extension project.

In 2016, through the joint efforts of NDHU and the Forestry Bureau, four regional networks (TPSI-N, TPSI-W, TPSI-S, and TPSI-E) were established for regional capacity building and nation-wide exchange of on-the-ground experiences with other practitioners. Since then, conducting one- or two-day regional workshops arranged by each of the regional networks throughout the year (a total of four workshops per year) became a tradition bringing together diverse participants from local community organizations, government institutions, NGOs/ NPOs, and academia.

During 2014-2017, ‘think global’, ‘adapt national’ and ‘act local’ activities, as outlined in TPSI Strategic Framework (Figure 1), have been happening simultaneously and cross-complimenting each other.

— ‘Act local’ concept has been realized through two main types of events: capacity building workshops for government officials and regional networking activities of TPSI (TPSI-N, TPSI-W, TPSI-S, and TPSI-E). Specialized workshops and conferences proved successful in bringing the concepts of eco-agriculture and the Satoyama Initiative into the discourse between Taiwan’s agricultural (e.g. HDARES) and nature conservation sectors (e.g. the Forestry Bureau and its district offices), as well as stimulating discussions within each government agency. At the same time, field trips, keynote speeches and on-the-ground experience sharing have been providing unique opportunities for interaction and cooperation across different levels, sectors and localities to further strengthen TPSI network.

— Policy research and knowledge enhancement under the ‘adapt national’ concept have been primarily focused on efforts towards completing a cross-domain governance discussion on establishing a ‘Forest-River-Village-Sea’ green conservation network guided by the principles of the Satoyama Initiative and eco-agriculture.

— Knowledge-sharing by TPSI members at annual Global IPSI Conferences and Regional Workshops in conjunction with domestic events with invited international experts have been reflective of the ‘think global’ concept. Learning from and engaging in IPSI activities has allowed not only to achieve the two targets of TPSI Strategic Framework (‘Addressing issues of SEPLS and formulating solutions’ and ‘Conservation and revitalization of SEPLS’) domestically but also share Taiwan’s experiences with other partners around the globe.

By the end of 2017, a wider inclusion of ecological, especially biodiversity-related, component into TPSI activities as well as mainstreaming of the Satoyama Initiative into Taiwan’s national policy were among TPSI’s main challenges. In addition to it, despite the evident success of promotion of the Satoyama Initiative in Taiwan, the Forestry Bureau couldn’t help but point out the dangers of intense land-use pressure caused by the high population density on a small island of Taiwan. There was an urgent need for a comprehensive plan to restore fragmented ecosystems, create connectivity between different landscape elements and promote eco-friendly resource use.  Hence, the ‘2018-2021 Taiwan Ecological Network’ (TEN) was called on to accomplish this task.

 TEN was proposed by the Forestry Bureau as a new cross-sectoral project based on the cooperation between inter-ministerial agencies – under the Council of Agriculture, Taiwan. In 2018, it was approved by the Executive Yuan along with its four-year budget of USD 750,000. The first objective of TEN was to consolidate the ecological survey data of the previous years to identify the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in Taiwan. A special focus was on the KBAs outside the Central Mountain conservation corridor that traditionally is a home to the majority of Taiwan’s protected areas and national forest areas. The next objective was to engage in protecting and connecting these KBAs by the means of promoting eco-friendly agriculture under the concept of the Satoyama Initiative in agricultural areas, as well as developing east-west wildlife-friendly corridors using rivers, forests and roads to connect important ecosystems between the Central Mountain region and coastal areas. The main conservation target of TEN is to revitalize and preserve Taiwan’s SEPLS so as to reach the vision of ‘Living in Harmony with Nature’ under the Satoyama Initiative and the 2050 vision for biodiversity under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Establishment of TEN and its six perspectives (Figure 2) marked a shift from traditional protected areas conservation approach towards the one based on recognizing rural areas as a link for restoring the balance between natural and urban systems in Taiwan. Moreover, the project highlighted a fundamental role that SEPLS play in biodiversity conservation through promotion of sustainable agricultural practices and revival of rural communities. Figure 3 shows the relationship between the Satoyama Initiative, IPSI, TPSI, and TEN.