In Fall of 1993, two Taiwanese consortiums, Tuntex and Yei-Long, jointly announced their intention to develop the Bin-nan petrochemical industrial complex in the Tsengwen Estuary, located along the southwest coast of Tainan County, Taiwan. Less than a year later, environmental and bird groups both within Taiwan and abroad began the fight to stop the project. Why? Because the estuary is the wintering grounds for an endangered bird, the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor), one of the rarest birds in the world.

In 1997, Randy Hester and Marcia McNally became involved in this drama through their long-time colleague (and architect) John K.C. Liu, director of National Taiwan University's (NTU) Building and Planning Research Foundation. During that winter semester, Hester and Liu ran concurrent studio projects focusing on the estuary. Liu's students worked on concepts for an ecotourism plan alternative, Hester's addressed the environmental issues associated with locating heavy industry in a coastal area. These studios culminated in conferences held in May in Taiwan at which the studio students and faculty from Berkeley and NTU were joined by scientists and planners from the U.S. and Taiwan to discuss sustainable development in the Chi-gu area.

Out of the conference, a bi-coastal organization was formed to garner international support from the environmental community. Twenty months and many miles later, Spoonbill Action Voluntary Echo (SAVE) has accomplished a great deal. Using the funds raised through an Adopt-a-Spoonbill campaign, SAVE last year sent a scientific delegation to Taiwan to present new findings. The work was presented 20 times in seven days to audiences as diverse at the Chi-gu fishermen, the Tainan County magistrate, a consortium of national environmental organizations, the heads of each of the four Taiwanese political parties, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and Council of Agriculture, and the Taiwan national legislature. At that time a list of over 100 endorsements from environmental organizations worldwide was hand-delivered to the politicians and press.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Bin-nan industrial complex has been in the final stage of review at the EPA since last April. While the decision was expected by July, the review process continues without end in sight. Due to the scale and wide-ranging environmental issues associated with Bin-nan, the EPA set up preliminary review committees and meetings to address different aspects of the EIA, many of which were raised in an alternative EIA prepared by SAVE. This is the first time since the implementation of EIA law in Taiwan that these procedures have been implemented.

Taking a different tack, Hester traveled again to Taiwan in January 1999 to meet with Vice Premiere Liu to discuss potential funding for a sustainable alternative plan for Chi-gu. The Vice Premiere expressed interest in funding this planning, provided the effort has strong local support. Hester also met with several local politicians regarding the plan. With the uncertainties surrounding the approval of Bin-nan, these elected officials are very interested in the development of a politically viable alternative.

Next month, SAVE will send a UC Berkeley student delegation to Taiwan to meet with politicians, fishermen, and environmental groups to further advance the sustainable plan. The students will join experts to present newly developed conservation plans and case studies on ecotourism.

Marcia McNally, Community Development by Design
2707 Mathews Street Berkeley, CA 94702
voice 510-549-9428, fax 510-549-9431