Chinese Name: 台灣藍色東港溪保育協會
Established: 1997
Founders: Tsai Shun-jou (蔡順柔), Chou Ke-jen (周克任), and Tseng Chao-hsiung (曾昭雄)
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/iamactkr/?locale=zh_TW
Did You Know That…?
The Blue Donggang Creek Conservation Association of Taiwan is a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting communities around Donggang River (東港溪) through water resource research. The Association encourages residents to understand their living environment and offers expert guidance on environmental policies.
The Blue Donggang Creek Conservation Association of Taiwan was established in response to public discussions about protecting the ecosystem of Mountain Kavulungan (大武山) due to the development of the Southern Cross-Island Highway (南橫國道) in Pingtung County. Concerned scholars and environmentalists gathered to address regional environmental and social issues. In 1997, to deepen the consensus on river conservation, the focus shifted to river regulation issues affecting residents’ daily lives, leading to the formation of the Blue Donggang Creek Conservation Association of Taiwan.
In addition to its commitment to river education, ecological preservation, and historical data collection, the Association has established a youth group to engage the younger generation. These youths interact with community elders, fostering a close relationship between residents and the rivers. They also assist in investigating natural resources, transforming their findings into maps and blueprints for community development. Through these activities, they have become a vital part of the Association’s involvement in local community affairs.
The Association understands that river conservation can only be successful through the participation of local communities. Therefore, it prioritizes creating dialogues and exchanges with residents to build collective awareness and protect natural resources in the area.
Rooted in local communities, the Association has focused on researching and initiating social movements related to the Donggang River. This includes protesting against the development of the Southern Cross-Island Highway, the Majia Reservoir (瑪家水庫), and other unwarranted development projects. Emphasizing the importance of environmental and river education, the Association accumulates local knowledge about Pingtung through ongoing efforts driven by local communities.
(Image: Blue Donggang Creek Conservation Association of Taiwan)