Derict to middle content area:::
:::
Mei-hui Chen
Dr. of Graduate School of Fore stry Science, National Taiwan University
Former assistant professor of National Pingtong Technology University and currently engaging in the Kenting National Park Ecotourism Route Planning project assigned by KTNP.
Best Interpreter─Wango
Wango came from the country side of Tainan and he has been fond of the Nature since childhood. He moved to Sheding and fell in love with the landscape here. With years of life in the mountains, Wango’s oudiv>
Now Wango works as a tour guide as well as the patrol guard. Sometimes he’d go for tracing wildlife’s activity. He says, “this is my favorite job all my life.”
《The Villages》Sheding Village of Kenting-
Sheding Natural Park stands at the center of Kenting National Park. The local geology belongs to the limestone of Pleistocene epoch. The uplifted coral reef landform resulted from the rising of the crust 300 to 500 thousand years ago is a precious research site for geology. There diverse rare animals include Cervus nippon taiouanus Blyth, Troides aeacus kaguya, Rana tigerina rugulosa, Diospyros discolor Willd, Mycena chlorophos, Cistoclemmys flavomarginata, Butastur indicus, and Accipiter soloensis, etc. As an important archeological site, Sheding used to be a Paiwan village at the southmost end of Taiwan with many historical remains like charcoal kilns, coralline limestone houses and slate coffins.
According to the ecotourism development guideline and spirit stated in the Ecotourism White Paper prepared by the Executive Yuan, Sheding Village is selected as the first ecotourism site of KTNP because of its diverse geological landscapes, rich ecosystems and cultural heritage. Chin-fang Shih, the Director of Kenting National Park Headquarters decides to change the tourism mode through promoting ecotourism. She wishes that the villagers will unite to participate in community development rather than strictly passively banning on illegal hunting and cultivation. The realization of environmental conservation will benefit the related industry and improve villagers’ life.
Initiating Community Development
Sheding was once named “Guizijiao” and home to Paiwan Tribe, who left us with some aborigine historical sties. Legends centuries old say that Paiwan people made an oath not to eat chicken in mourning for their families exterminated by the Dutch. Later with more and more intermarriages, population outfl ow, and arrival of Han people, Hakka people and people from other provinces, Sheding becomes a place of multiple cultures.
According to the ecotourism development guideline and spirit stated in the Ecotourism White Paper prepared by the Executive Yuan, Sheding Village is selected as the first ecotourism site of KTNP because of its diverse geological landscapes, rich ecosystems and cultural heritage. Chin-fang Shih, the Director of Kenting National Park Headquarters decides to change the tourism mode through promoting ecotourism. She wishes that the villagers will unite to participate in community development rather than strictly passively banning on illegal hunting and cultivation. The realization of environmental conservation will benefit the related industry and improve villagers’ life.
Initiating Community Development
Sheding was once named “Guizijiao” and home to Paiwan Tribe, who left us with some aborigine historical sties. Legends centuries old say that Paiwan people made an oath not to eat chicken in mourning for their families exterminated by the Dutch. Later with more and more intermarriages, population outfl ow, and arrival of Han people, Hakka people and people from other provinces, Sheding becomes a place of multiple cultures.
There are approximately 60 families living in Sheding. Despite of the beautiful landscape, it is hard for the villagers to make a living besides peddling, collecting herbs in the mountain and occasional hunting.
The park authority assigned an academic research on “Kenting National Park Ecotourism Route Planning” in 2005 to survey the natural and cultural resources in Sheding. In 2006, KTNP assigned Mei-hui Chen, assistant professor of Department of Forestry, National Pingtung Technology University, Hsiang-hua Wang, former director of Hengchun Forestry Research Institute, and Lai-hsi Li, assistant professor of National Pingtung Institute of Commerce to co-host this project and initiate the community infrastructure establishment (CIE) for Sheding.
The poverty of farmers’ living in early years motivated the farmer’s child Chen to devote her career into improving farmers’ life. As overly development brings huge impact onto the environment and ecosystems, she decided to switch to ecosystem conservation and practice of maintaining ecosystem. The Sheding CIE project provided Chen a great opportunity to fulfill her belief that biodiversity conservation can be effective only through the community’s involvement and connection with community development. Chen began with the family visiting.
Uplifted Coral Reef
Taiwan is surrounded by oceans and coral reef landform is very common, but the uplifted coral reef is relatively rare. Researches show that the Kenting Forest Recreation Area, Sheding, Eluanbi were part of Kenting Tableland under the sea half million years ago. A master piece by the Nature, these beautiful coral reef forests in the warm ocean were lifted with the rising crust, and now only coralline limestone are left through weathering.
The park authority assigned an academic research on “Kenting National Park Ecotourism Route Planning” in 2005 to survey the natural and cultural resources in Sheding. In 2006, KTNP assigned Mei-hui Chen, assistant professor of Department of Forestry, National Pingtung Technology University, Hsiang-hua Wang, former director of Hengchun Forestry Research Institute, and Lai-hsi Li, assistant professor of National Pingtung Institute of Commerce to co-host this project and initiate the community infrastructure establishment (CIE) for Sheding.
The poverty of farmers’ living in early years motivated the farmer’s child Chen to devote her career into improving farmers’ life. As overly development brings huge impact onto the environment and ecosystems, she decided to switch to ecosystem conservation and practice of maintaining ecosystem. The Sheding CIE project provided Chen a great opportunity to fulfill her belief that biodiversity conservation can be effective only through the community’s involvement and connection with community development. Chen began with the family visiting.
Uplifted Coral Reef
Taiwan is surrounded by oceans and coral reef landform is very common, but the uplifted coral reef is relatively rare. Researches show that the Kenting Forest Recreation Area, Sheding, Eluanbi were part of Kenting Tableland under the sea half million years ago. A master piece by the Nature, these beautiful coral reef forests in the warm ocean were lifted with the rising crust, and now only coralline limestone are left through weathering.
Dr. of Graduate School of Fore stry Science, National Taiwan University
Former assistant professor of National Pingtong Technology University and currently engaging in the Kenting National Park Ecotourism Route Planning project assigned by KTNP.
- upper: Hanbiting of Sheding Natural Park.(by Chia-huang Lu, provided by KTNP)
- lower left: A plate covers a coffin that holds the dead vertically underground. (by Chin-wen Wang)
- lower center: The small Rift Valley, one of the scenic spots of Sheding Nautre Park.(by Chin-wen Wang)
- lower right: The small shrine built with coral line limestone.(by Chin-wen Wang)
Text/ Isabel Tsai
Photographer/ Chin-wen Wang‧Ling Lin‧Da-cing Jhou‧Jin-rong Syu‧Chia-huang Lu
Photographer/ Chin-wen Wang‧Ling Lin‧Da-cing Jhou‧Jin-rong Syu‧Chia-huang Lu
Community’s Consensus
The purpose of her family visiting was not only for getting acquaintance with the villagers, but also for communication, message delivery and finding out problems. It could also encourage them to participate with CIE project. Chen and then director of Guide Service, KTNP, Wen-ming Lin visited the village over and over to explain the project. Finally, throuth their unyielding effort, more and more villagers joined the project and attended related training.
Once a consensus is reached, Chen took the villagers to other villages for emulation, in the name of Pingtung County Sheding Village Development and Culture Association founded in 2004. Through constant review and discussion, they gradually completed a route survey, route patrol, biodiversity monitoring, lodging and meal services planning, tour guide training and certificating program. The arrangement of patrol rangers and tour guides makes the tour service of Sheding ecotourism more interesting while villagers build up closer relationship with their homeland through frequent activities.
Withe active support from KTNP in the beginning of developing Sheding CIE, the village gained both assistance in budget and profession advisory including concept promotion, experience sharing and technique support. When Chen decided to offer nighttime ecotour, Lin as director of guide service of KTNP volunteered to help and together they made it a popular event. Chi-lien Yin, now director of guide service devotes with full heart to promote Sheding ecotourism as well. Yin works closely with Chen for new routes, ecotour program and strategic alliance.
The purpose of her family visiting was not only for getting acquaintance with the villagers, but also for communication, message delivery and finding out problems. It could also encourage them to participate with CIE project. Chen and then director of Guide Service, KTNP, Wen-ming Lin visited the village over and over to explain the project. Finally, throuth their unyielding effort, more and more villagers joined the project and attended related training.
Once a consensus is reached, Chen took the villagers to other villages for emulation, in the name of Pingtung County Sheding Village Development and Culture Association founded in 2004. Through constant review and discussion, they gradually completed a route survey, route patrol, biodiversity monitoring, lodging and meal services planning, tour guide training and certificating program. The arrangement of patrol rangers and tour guides makes the tour service of Sheding ecotourism more interesting while villagers build up closer relationship with their homeland through frequent activities.
Withe active support from KTNP in the beginning of developing Sheding CIE, the village gained both assistance in budget and profession advisory including concept promotion, experience sharing and technique support. When Chen decided to offer nighttime ecotour, Lin as director of guide service of KTNP volunteered to help and together they made it a popular event. Chi-lien Yin, now director of guide service devotes with full heart to promote Sheding ecotourism as well. Yin works closely with Chen for new routes, ecotour program and strategic alliance.
Now Sheding successfully incorporate resources from Forestry Research Institute, Bureau of Forestry, Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training and hotels to develop the new stage of local ecotourism through Yin’ s mediation.
Through Joint Efforts to Create Sustainability
With joint efforts from many parties, now the villagers have developed following 3 tours to Sheding Natural Park. All the routes use primitive trails that general tourists won’t be able to explore and highlight the unique value of Sheding ecotourism.
1. Nighttime Tour, good from June to September：
Village tour guides will take visitors to the colorful world of Sheding at night to watch the famous “ghost fi re” of Mycena chlorophos and Lampyridae.
2. Day Time Exploration Tour, good for the whole year：
The trip contains visiting Ficus benjamina forest, butterfl y valley and trail, observing Cervus nippon taiouanus Blyth and goats. Visitors can also enjoy the natural landscape of small rift valley and large grassland.
3. Hawk Watching Tour, good from September to ctober：
Visitors can watch the visiting Accipiter soloensis and Butastur indicus in close distance and also Taiwan endemic hawks like Spilornis cheela and Accipiter trivirgatus, which will be a wonderful experience in a lifetime.
Through Joint Efforts to Create Sustainability
With joint efforts from many parties, now the villagers have developed following 3 tours to Sheding Natural Park. All the routes use primitive trails that general tourists won’t be able to explore and highlight the unique value of Sheding ecotourism.
1. Nighttime Tour, good from June to September：
Village tour guides will take visitors to the colorful world of Sheding at night to watch the famous “ghost fi re” of Mycena chlorophos and Lampyridae.
2. Day Time Exploration Tour, good for the whole year：
The trip contains visiting Ficus benjamina forest, butterfl y valley and trail, observing Cervus nippon taiouanus Blyth and goats. Visitors can also enjoy the natural landscape of small rift valley and large grassland.
3. Hawk Watching Tour, good from September to ctober：
Visitors can watch the visiting Accipiter soloensis and Butastur indicus in close distance and also Taiwan endemic hawks like Spilornis cheela and Accipiter trivirgatus, which will be a wonderful experience in a lifetime.
Best Interpreter─Wango
Wango came from the country side of Tainan and he has been fond of the Nature since childhood. He moved to Sheding and fell in love with the landscape here. With years of life in the mountains, Wango’s oudiv>
Now Wango works as a tour guide as well as the patrol guard. Sometimes he’d go for tracing wildlife’s activity. He says, “this is my favorite job all my life.”
- upper: A guest house with coralline limestone decorations next to Sheding Natural Park. (by Chin-wen Wang)
- left to right(lower):
。The eclosion behavior of Huechys sanguinea. (by Da-cing Jhou, provided by KTNP)
。Nephila pilipes (by Chinwen Wang)
。The larva of Papilio polytes pasikrates. (by Chin-wen Wang)
。Spilornis cheela (by Jin-rong Syu, provided by KTNP)
On July 17, 2007, Sheding Natural Ecotourism Service Center officially held an Inauguration Ceremony, indicating the achievement through joint efforts from Sheding villagers, KNP Headquarters and the project team in the past few years. Now the villagers have greater responsibility toward the operation of Sheding Natural Park. In the ceremony, Director Shih expressed his heartfelt gratitude and excitement while representatives from local high-end hotels expressed their desire for collaboration in promoting ecotourism. In particular, Kenting Chateau Sand Hotel announced that from July 20 to September 20, the hotel will introduce 10 customers to attend Sheding nighttime tour every day. The hotel operators show their support through active action and fulfill their corporation responsibility for local sustainability.
The effect of Sheding CIE already emerges. Ecotourism brings in new business, warms up villagers’ connection, and enhances the village’s appearance. The authorities are also happy to see the success of ecosystem conservation. It provides visitors with a new tourism mode that closes the distance between man and the Nature. It is the best proof and example of collaboration between the government and the people.
The effect of Sheding CIE already emerges. Ecotourism brings in new business, warms up villagers’ connection, and enhances the village’s appearance. The authorities are also happy to see the success of ecosystem conservation. It provides visitors with a new tourism mode that closes the distance between man and the Nature. It is the best proof and example of collaboration between the government and the people.
The Future Vision of Sheding
Now the ecotourism promoted by Sheding CIE project is growing fast, but Chen is not satisfied with this. In the research project, she proposes more long term goals, including:
1.Advancing villagers’ understanding and training about ecotourism for more diverse tour programs.
2.Strengthening the community leadership to cultivate a more professional team.
3.Improve the landscape to cope with the need of ecotourism development.
4.Build up closer partnership between Kenting National Park Headquarters and the village.
All the above propositions are aimed at a better, more interesting and colorful ecotourism. It is expected that villagers’ participation may help achieve the balance between environment conservation and the ecosystem. When you come to KTNP, don’t just stay in the air conditioned room of the hotel. Surfing, swimming and wandering on the street are activities pass.. Not far from the main street of Kenting, the starry night and wonderful wildlife of Sheding Natural Park are waiting for you.
Now the ecotourism promoted by Sheding CIE project is growing fast, but Chen is not satisfied with this. In the research project, she proposes more long term goals, including:
1.Advancing villagers’ understanding and training about ecotourism for more diverse tour programs.
2.Strengthening the community leadership to cultivate a more professional team.
3.Improve the landscape to cope with the need of ecotourism development.
4.Build up closer partnership between Kenting National Park Headquarters and the village.
All the above propositions are aimed at a better, more interesting and colorful ecotourism. It is expected that villagers’ participation may help achieve the balance between environment conservation and the ecosystem. When you come to KTNP, don’t just stay in the air conditioned room of the hotel. Surfing, swimming and wandering on the street are activities pass.. Not far from the main street of Kenting, the starry night and wonderful wildlife of Sheding Natural Park are waiting for you.
- upper: The grassland for watch the stars.(by Da-cing Jhou, provided by KTNP)
- left to right(lower):
。The Entrance Landmark of Sheding Village. (by Ling Lin)
。Papilio polytes pasikrates (by Chin-wen Wang)
。The population of Cervus Nippon taiouanus Blyth is recovering. (by Chia-huang Lu, provided by KTNP)
。Mycena chlorophos appeared after rainy night in summer.(by Da-cing Jhou, provided by KTNP)
