Toward Harmony with Nature: The Sustainable Transformation of Rice Industry to Protect the Ecosystem Services
Journal
Satoyama Initiative Thematic Review
Part Of
Ensuring Ecological Connectivity in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS)
Start Page
191
End Page
208
ISSN
2731-5169
2731-5177
ISBN (of the container)
9789819514731
9789819514748
DOI (of the container)
10.1007/978-981-95-1474-8
Date Issued
2025-10-25
Author(s)
Lee, Chen-Yang
Chen, Jung-Chun
Chen, Ling-Tsen
Wu, Chen-Fa
Chen, Szu-Hung
Zhang, Zhao-Hong
Huang, Ching-Chien
Chuang, Hao-Yun
Lai, Chun-Hsien
Trac, Luu Van Thong
Hsu, Hao-Wei
Chen, Yu-Chin
Editor(s)
Nishi, Maiko
M. Subramanian, Suneetha
Varghese, Philip
Houndonougbo, Juliano Sènanmi Hermann
Abstract
The Wufeng District in Taiwan, China, has experienced significant infrastructural development, leading to challenges such as soil degradation and habitat loss in local agroecosystems. Farmers face issues like small, fragmented landholdings, resulting in low yields and incomes. Conventional farming practices, characterized by heavy pesticide use, have exacerbated these problems. To address these concerns, it is essential to balance agricultural production with ecosystem services, ensuring both environmental health and farmer livelihoods. The Wufeng Farmers’ Association, alongside the Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, plays a critical role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. By transitioning conventional rice cultivation to eco-friendly methods, as seen in the Wufeng aromatic rice brand, the association advocates organic farming through the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act, which includes subsidies and market incentives. One notable initiative involves utilizing the black-winged kite, a key species for biological pest control, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. The association collaborates with National Chung Hsing University to establish centers for organic agriculture promotion, certification, and technological investment, enhancing rice industry competitiveness. While the shift toward organic farming supports biodiversity and ecological connectivity, it may also reduce habitat heterogeneity for nontarget species and pose economic and social challenges related to market expansion and equity. By maintaining connectivity through landscape structure metrics such as patch size, edge density, and movement corridors, sustainable land management can be achieved. Raptors like the black-winged kite require home ranges of 5–25 km2 and foraging distances of 1–5 km, highlighting the need for open landscapes. Ensuring corridors 50–500 m wide supports movement, while reducing pesticide use by 30–50% enhances ecological health and sustainable land management.
SDGs
Publisher
Springer Nature Singapore
Type
book part