Seeds of Fuxing (Revival)

The “”mbhoyaw”” project at National Central University, meaning “”harvest and growth”” in the Atayal language, is deeply rooted in sustainable development and symbolized by the indigenous Atayal people’s bamboo, the Makino bamboo.  This cross-disciplinary initiative is set in Fuxing District, Taoyuan City. It spans two phases divided by the Luofu area: the first phase focuses on the “Front Mountain” area, while the second phase extends to the more remote “Back Mountain” region.

Initially, local elders envisioned Fuxing’s tourism potential through traditional dance performances akin to Xiao Wulai. However, with engineering professors as key participants, unfamiliarity with traditional culture and marketing posed challenges. Following careful coordination, the team developed four major focus areas: disaster resilience, energy and carbon reduction, environmental sustainability, and cultural-industrial fusion.

Growing Strong with Fuxing

Fuxing District, historically vulnerable to typhoons and heavy rains, faces ongoing natural threats. Its remote “Back Mountain” area often experiences landslides, isolating residents and severing power and communication. Furthermore, the implementation of the “”The Logging Ban Compensation for Lands Reserved for Indigenous Peoples Act”” and Taiwan’s net-zero policies have led to a sharp decline in bamboo production. Aging, overgrown bamboo forests now present a potential threat to soil conservation and water resources, even impacting the water quality and supply of Shimen Reservoir. These formidable disaster prevention issues affect not only Fuxing’s residents but also downstream communities, making this a shared regional concern.

To tackle these challenges,  professors involved in the project launched initiatives in disaster analysis, green energy with microgrid setup, water resource monitoring, and advocacy for the Makino bamboo industry. However, the project’s progress was complicated by its location within protected water source areas, requiring coordination across multiple agencies, including the Council of Indigenous Peoples and Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency. After three to four years of dedicated effort, the team resolved key obstacles and began collaborating with local enterprises, such as Youshun Bamboo Industry Co., Ltd. and the Makino Bamboo Association, to establish bamboo processing facilities, launch rural revitalization projects, and support bamboo industry development.

Additionally, NCU launched nine related courses, encouraging students to delve into local issues and apply both technological and humanistic insights to address the unique challenges faced by Fuxing District.

From Bamboo Forests to Market

With a balanced approach to local relations, the project is progressing smoothly, gradually addressing issues such as a shortage of skilled bamboo harvesters and the conversion of bamboo waste into energy. Looking to the future, the project team aims to adopt a model inspired by Japan: corporate sponsorship would fund bamboo grove management and thinning, enabling local residents to maintain the bamboo forests and bring agricultural products to market at fair prices. This would create a profitable and competitive product line, reducing reliance on external funding once a sustainable business model is established. Businesses, in turn, benefit by lowering carbon footprints, utilizing the bamboo forests for carbon fixation, and purchasing carbon credits, thereby enhancing their own capital and contributing to environmental sustainability.