Small Farmers' Carbon Farming Project in Chishang, Taiwan

Chishang, nestled in Taitung County, Taiwan, is renowned as a premier rice production region with a legacy of more than 70 years. The area’s lush paddies and traditional agricultural rhythms are stewarded by the Wanan Community Development Association (WACDA), an active local group established three decades ago. WACDA’s mission centers on environmental protection, cultural conservation, and the promotion of organic farming—principles that have guided community action and land management for generations. Typical farming practices in Chishang after the second rice harvest in late October include thorough removal of litter and several rounds of tillage, followed by maintaining clear, fallow fields until February. This period of rest for the land helps sanitize soil-borne disease bacteria. However, to manage weeds during this time, herbicides have traditionally been applied, reflecting both pragmatic and conventional approaches to field management. In recent years, Chishang’s farmers, under WACDA’s leadership, have begun to embrace more sustainable soil management techniques. Inspired by the Gold Standard for Global Goals (GS4GG) Soil Organic Carbon Framework Methodology, the community