The National Park Service, Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), is hosting the "2024 SWS Annual Meeting in Taipei," a three-day international conference starting today. In her opening remarks, Minister Liu Shih-Fang highlighted that this marks the first time the SWS has held its annual meeting outside of North America, choosing Taipei, Taiwan as the venue. The conference aligns with the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. With the theme "Wetlands and Global Change: Mitigation and Adaptation," the event brings together 137 wetland scientists from 29 countries and nearly 150 scientists from Taiwan. Experts will share insights and discuss topics such as wetland biodiversity, climate change and carbon sequestration, water resources, marine conservation, land use planning and conservation, and governance policies. The National Parks Service, SWS, and Agencies signed the “Memorandum of Understanding 2025-2030: Interdepartmental Action for Wetland Conservation” in the opening ceremony. This intergovernmental agreement deploys a new blueprint for wetland governance and is a milestone for international collaboration.

Minister Liu mentioned that the diverse landscape of Taiwan supports a rich variety of wetland ecosystems and biodiversity. Since the enactment of the Wetlands Conservation Act in 2014, and the establishment of the National Park Service in 2023, Taiwan has integrated the management of eight National Parks, one National Nature Park, 59 Wetlands of Importance, and coastal areas. This represents not only a new chapter in territorial conservation but also an expanded mandate and set of responsibilities. The Ministry is promoting a flexible mechanism for wetland management with a “spatial governance” approach that incorporates biodiversity conservation and “Wise Use” principle. The strategies span farmlands, paddies, irrigation canals, artificial wetlands, and coastal wetlands, with the aim of improving ecological conditions and fostering local development in harmony with local industries and livelihood.

Liu emphasized that the number of Wetlands of Importance in Taiwan has now reached 59 sites, totaling 42,730.13 hectares. These Wetlands are not only critical for biodiversity but also for local communities and cultural heritage. Ministry of the Interior will work with local communities to promote wetland management, support wetland science development, and raise public awareness of wetland conservation. Additionally, the initiatives for wetlands management will incorporate corporate support and natural carbon sink mechanisms in near future to enhance water quality at a watershed level, expand Taiwan Ecological Network, and echo United Nations’ goal “30 by 30” for biodiversity for broadening water resource conservation and sustainable development.

At the end of ceremony, Minister Liu witnessed the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding 2025-2030: Interdepartmental Action for Wetland Conservation” by Deputy Director-General Yen-Hsing Hsu of National Land Management Agency, Deputy Director Zen-Chiung Lou of Water Quality Protection Department (Ministry of Environment Protection), Deputy Director-General Yi-Feng Wang of Water Resources Agency, Director-General Xiao-Yun Lu of Marine Conservation Agency, Director-General Hua-Ching Lin of Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Director Yen-Hsueh Tseng of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, and Director Jia-Dong Yang of Biodiversity Research Institute. This agreement underscores Taiwan’s commitment to nurturing talent in wetland science and strengthening wetland governance. Minister Liu also expressed appreciation for the support of Taipei City Government in hosting the conference.

The "2024 SWS Annual Meeting in Taipei" runs from November 12 to 14 at the Taipei International Convention Center. Full event details are available on the official website: https://sws2024.org/.