To promote marine conservation, the Marine National Park Headquarters, with assistance of the Lanyu (Orchid Island) Township Office, established the “Lanyu Center for Conservation and Promotion of Marine Cultural Resources” on August 15 at Lanyu.

The Lanyu Township Office has been actively promoting the tasks of preserving Lanyu’s marine cultural heritage, which is inline with MNPH’s philosophy of marine culture and resource conservation. Moreover, there are few cultures in Taiwan that are as deeply based on oceanic beliefs. To ensure the continuation of the balangay culture, the MNPH has been running programs that focus on developing local human resource empowerment, such as diving guides and natural/ecological tour guides. The MNPH leased an empty lot from the Township Office and uses it as a gathering place for discussion on issues such as marine cultures and ecological sustainability, and also as a place for local residents to express their opinions. The tasks of the Conservation Center include continuation of Lanyu’s marine cultural heritage, advocacy of marine resource conservation, holding seminars on marine conservation, human resource empowerment programs, and education programs. Moreover, to ensure that any future events will fit local needs, the center will have long-term staff directly talk with members of local tribes.

The MHPH hopes that the establishment of the Conservation center will further improve upon the effort of preserving Lanyu’s marine cultural heritages, and looks forward to cooperating with locals to guard the natural beauty of Lanyu.

Source：Marine National Park Headquarter