Reinterpreting the public strategy used for regulating conservation areas in Taipei

Abstract

Delimiting conservation areas has been a vital policy influencing the security of the land. Regarding the construction undertaken in Taiwanese national land planning, most conservation areas are located in nonurban areas. However, numerous conservation areas exist in urban areas, particularly in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Because of the national parks in the city, abundant natural resources exist in Taipei. However, land is limited, and the level of stress on the environment is increasing in the city. Moreover, conservation policies are influenced by multiple stakeholders with distinct historical backgrounds. Conflicts have occurred during land development processes because of the related contradictory laws and policies and the unclear definition of urban conservation areas (UCAs). Thus, in this study, we traced the etymology of UCAs to establish an accurate definition, and by reviewing related news events and examples of ecological cities, we analysed the varying attitudes among stakeholders. Observing the land use and Taipei City public policy regarding UCAs enables connecting practical operations to relative definitions. Finally, we suggest that implementing a grading system for UCAs is necessary to avoid controversy and increase the practicality of public policy.