Lee, Kuang-Chung; (2001) Towards collaborative planning and management of natural protected areas: A case study in the Formosan Landlocked Salmon Wildlife Refuge, Taiwan. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore what contributions a collaborative planning approach can make to achieving more sustainable solutions to the management of protected areas in Taiwan. Among the three designations of natural protected areas in Taiwan, the Wildlife Refuge is notable because its legal status provides more opportunities for stakeholder participation than other statutory designations. Drawing on a theory of collaborative planning advanced by Healey (1997, 1998a) this study provides an in-depth analysis of the history of the Formosan Landlocked Salmon Wildlife Refuge to evaluate the effectiveness of a collaborative approach to planning and management. A historical review of institutional practices suggests that several attempts have been made to move towards a more collaborative approach to natural areas planning and management in Taiwan. For example, devolution of power to the local government on a legal basis, some involvement of local people and conservation NGOs in the planning process on a legal basis, and establishment of formal instruments of policy, such as management plans and advisory committees. These are all ways of encouraging government institutions and scientists to work together in processes of planning and management. However, these practices mainly involve establishing formal arenas to foster the implementation of official 'plans' and their imposition on local areas. Local knowledge and local people are still marginalized in the planning process. Public meetings convened as part of the research were held with local farmers, tourists, and local management authorities and provided new inclusionary and communicative forums and arenas that were appreciated by most participants. The meetings discussed a range of issues based on local knowledge previously not addressed in traditional planning meetings. The meetings also involved local people who had previously been excluded from traditional planning processes. Such meetings brought together local people and the local management authorities in a face-to-face, consensus-building process. The meetings demonstrated how new political instruments designed to build social capacity amongst all relevant stakeholders can be used as a means of mobilising collaborative actions associated with the management of the local area. Detailed qualitative analysis of the record of these public meetings reveals that the main management problem of the Formosan Salmon Refuge Area arises from the different priorities given by stakeholders to two concepts: 'livelihoods of people' and 'the well-being of wildlife.' A sustainable solution to the long term management of the area will require a continuing programme of collaborative planning so that agreement can be reached about how these two goals can be reconciled. Recommendations about the forms such approaches might take are suggested based on a theoretically informed and explicit evaluation of the case study.

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