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Officials to focus on eco-diplomacy

Promotion of eco-diplomacy will be high on the agenda of the Non-governmental Organization (NGO) Affairs Committee this year, an official said yesterday.

Speaking at a committee news briefing, deputy head Jack Chiang (江國強) said that the committee organized an 11-member mission last year to Saint Lucia -- Taiwan's diplomatic ally in the Caribbean, which re-established official diplomatic ties with Taipei on April 30 last year -- to help develop its eco-tourism and birding infrastructure.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-backed (MOFA) mission was comprised of experienced birders, British and Canadian bird experts and a nature photographer. It was formed following a trip by foreign ambassadors to Taiwan to the Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area last year.

The mission helped Saint Lucia to establish its own eco-tourism routes, birding Web sites and to document its bird species for the future publication of a birding guide, Chiang said.

On the committee's work assisting MOFA in the promotion of the international activities of NGOs based in Taiwan, Chiang said a Chinese-English Web site had been set up to help local NGOs apply for subsidies and also to forge links with overseas NGOs.

He said online applications for subsidies would be easier and quicker, and that the NGOs could also inquire as to the progress of their applications online.

Chiang said a section of the Web site, and its "online radio station" was dedicated to the UN's Millennium Development Goals. He said it would feature a monthly "hot topic" that was receiving attention in the international community and include an interview with a Taiwanese NGO, in the hope of increasing communication and collaboration among local NGOs and expanding their international links and activities.
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