Geoparks of Taiwan - Their Development and Prospects for a Sustainable Future

This book offers an essential introduction to Taiwan's geoparks, issues related to their development, and prospects for a sustainable future. It discusses how promoting geoparks can serve as a tool for a sustainable society based on the lessons learned in Taiwan. Situated in a tectonically dynamic geological setting (at the boundary of the Eurasian and the Philippine Plates) and culturally diversified geographical setting, Taiwan is an ideal candidate for showcasing its 'natural wonders' in geoparks, promoting landscape conservation, and expanding the horizons of geoheritage world-wide. The book begins by illustrating the physical and human environments of Taiwan's geoparks, helping readers understand their foundation. In turn, the second section includes chapters describing the development of all six Taiwanese geoparks, offering comprehensive information on each. Lastly, it illustrates the social development and mechanisms used to promote each geopark.

Jiun-Chuan Lin obtained a PhD degree from the Department of Geography, King's College London in 1991. He is currently a Professor at the Department of Geography, National Taiwan University. During his service as the Vice Dean, General Affairs of NTU in 2010s, he utilized his geographical expertise of spatial management for a user friendly and sustainable campus. His main research interests include mechanisms of soil and slope erosion, and monitoring and management of hazards in small-scale watersheds. As a geomorphologist, he has taken initiative to promote landscape conservation since early 1990s, during which time he has co-worked with different government agencies and NGOs for robust and sustainable effects. Currently he involves heavily in geopark promotion of Taiwan with the values of landscape conservation, environmental education, geotourism and capacity building for local communities. Prof. Lin is elected as the first Chair of Taiwan Geoparks Association in 2017.

Shew-Jiuan SU is Professor of human geography and Chair of the Department of Geography, National Taiwan Normal University, TAIWAN. Appreciating today's trans- disciplinary academic world and understanding the critical need for solutions to facing and solving contemporary environmental issues, Professor Su has involved in both political economy and political ecology approaches in her teaching and research. The structural approaches of political economy have provided insights for linking geopark promotion with the national legislative and educational development of Taiwan. Approaches of political ecology have become useful for a bottom-up development of geopark promotion. In the end, however, all the schools of thought will need to become integral for the sustainability development of human societies and the only human planet.