Converting pests into allies in tea farming — a SEPL case in Hualien, Taiwan
09.05.2018
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SUBMITTED ORGANISATION :
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SWAN (Society for Wildlife and Nature) International; Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Council of Agriculture; Biodiversity Research Center, National Taiwan University
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DATE OF SUBMISSION :
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09/05/2018
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REGION :
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Eastern Asia
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COUNTRY :
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Chinese Taipei (Wuhe Tableland, Rueisuei Township, Hualien County)
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SUMMARY :
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Eco-friendly farming (EF) has been practiced in some tea plantations of Wuhe Tableland, Rueisuei Township in eastern Taiwan to maintain populations of the small green leafhopper (SGL), Jacobiasca formosana. Previously considered a pest, this insect is now an economically important asset because tea shoots and young leaves “damaged” by the SGL are now harvested to make a high-priced honey-flavored black tea that is welcomed in the market. However, the socio-economic and ecological impacts of EF have not been examined. In this study, we measured and compared insect (and other arthropod) and vertebrate diversity at three tea plantations with EF practices and three plantations with conventional farming (CF) practices, and interviewed relevant stakeholders to collect information on the socio-economic effects of EF versus CF practices. Our results showed that tea plantations with EF practices not only generate higher economic return but also conserve higher biodiversity. In addition, more job opportunities were created through the EF practices. We conclude that social interviews and stakeholder engagement, as well as biodiversity surveys, are not only useful but also critical tools to identify and verify a socio-ecological production landscape (SEPL) such as the tea production landscape in Wuhe Tableland.
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KEYWORD :
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Tea, leafhopper, eco-friendly farming, Wuhe, Hualien
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AUTHOR:
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Dr. Jung-Tai Chao is a Board member of SWAN (Society for Wildlife and Nature) International, a retired Senior Scientist at the Division of Forest Protection, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI) and Curator of Forest Arthropod Collection of Taiwan (FACT) of TFRI. Dr. Chao’s research focuses on ecology and conservation of wildlife, ecology and management of forest insects. He has spent much of his effort on national policy, education and public awareness of biological diversity as well as research on forest arthropod diversity in Taiwan since late 1990s. Dr. Ling-Ling Lee is a Professor at the Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Science, and the Director of Biodiversity Research Center, National Taiwan University. Dr. Lee teaches animal behavior, ecology, mammalogy and conservation biology. Her research focuses on ecology, behavior and conservation of wildlife, especially on mammals, including the Formosan macaque, bats and recently otters. She was the President of SWAN International from 2006 to 2012 and has served as Non-governmental official Member of the National Council of Sustainable Development between 2004 and 2015.
Summary Sheet
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