新作坊 Humanity Innovation and Social Practice

Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) has emerged in recent years as a new trend in forest management, emphasizing community-led approaches to stimulate local economies, adapt to climate change, raise environmental awareness, and promote equitable resource distribution.However, the practice of CBFM in different regions faces challenges related to commercial organization, inclusivity, community empowerment, and sustainability. Universities, as key stakeholders in these communities, bear the responsibility of actively engaging in such initiatives as part of their social responsibility. Since July 2022, National Chiayi University has embarked on a three-year community-based project in Haomei Community, Budai Township, Chiayi, deploying a forestry-focused team to undertake environmental sustainability efforts in a protected forest impacted by the white popinac, an invasive species. During the project, the area has become a promising site for coastal environmental education and has integrated elements of community art, culture, and economic development in projects such as facilitating environmental art installations, organizing cultural tours, and promoting the cultivation of essential oil plants. Based on insights gained during fieldwork, we applied the Social Process Research Model to analyze the actions of the university team, organized key events, and proposed a Community-University Partnership Model (CUPM) as a reference for future CBFM practices.