Badlands Collaboration 2.0

Building on the success of the 2020 National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) USR 1.0 project, which integrated the communities of Zuojhen and Longqi in Tainan as well as Tianliao and Neimen in Kaohsiung, the new “Badlands Collaboration” initiative has evolved. With “resonance” as its core value, the expanded 2.0 project now includes Xinhua and Guanmiao in Tainan and Qishan in Kaohsiung. By combining NCKU’s resources with local resources, the project embodies the “Three News” approach, strengthening community bonds and fostering unity between the communities and the university.

The “Three News”—New Experiences, New Industries, and New Information

The Badlands Collaboration project at NCKU not only cultivates local resonance through sustainable culture and innovative experiences but also establishes a “Badlands Think Tank,” where professors from nine departments jointly conduct historical research and ecological studies, filling in knowledge gaps and addressing local challenges. NCKU actively seeks solutions alongside problem identification, initiating industry collaboration through relevant courses that mobilize university resources to support local communities. With long-term monitoring of the unique badlands environment and abundant growth of thorny bamboo, the project is exploring innovative uses of bamboo, aiming to develop sustainable, community-driven solutions.

Bamboo Forest Management and Industry Innovation

Two prevailing issues challenge bamboo forest sustainability: difficulty in inventory and management and the decline of the bamboo industry. To address the management challenge, Professor Wei-ju Huang from NCKU identified the need for precise mapping and worked with the Aerial Survey and Remote Sensing Branch, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (formerly the Aerial Survey Office, Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture) to apply aerial imaging for a comprehensive inventory of bamboo resources in the badlands. This data will serve future bamboo management efforts and support disaster risk assessment in related coursework.

To combat the decline of the bamboo industry, NCKU adopted a “learn-as-we-go” approach. Traditional bamboo and rattan products no longer meet modern consumer demands, and despite efforts to innovate, sales remained stagnant. In response, professors from the departments of Architecture and Urban Planning within the project have integrated contemporary construction techniques to design bamboo structures that adapt to changing needs. This approach aims to establish a comprehensive industrial chain, create new demand, and revitalize the bamboo industry, ultimately helping to counteract population outflow due to limited local opportunities.