The author is a Professor in the Department of Geography of National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Citation: This paper may be cited as: [Author.] 2005. [Article title.] In Ted Trzyna, ed., The Urban Imperative. California Institute of Public Affairs, Sacramento, California.

1.  Introduction

Yangmingshan National Park is only a 40-minute trip by car from the center of Taipei (metropolitan population 6.9 million) and attracts a large number of visitors. In fact, in summer many people go there after a day’s work in the city to watch birds and the setting sun. Yangmingshan is renowned for its wealth of unusual volcanic features and topography. It has thirteen hot-spring and fumarole areas with clouds of geothermal steam. The highest volcano, 1120 m in elevation, shelters the Northeast winter monsoon. The park is located in the subtropical zone, but its vegetation differs from other areas at similar latitudes. There are currently some 1224 species of plants distributed in grassland, arrow bamboo forest, and broad-leaved forest.

Historical remains and early-day mountain trails used to carry fish products to the city market are still clearly visible. Visitors tend to concentrate along a butterfly trail, bird-watching trails, and a water-plant conservation zone. The park administration suggests half-day, one-day, and two-day itineraries, all posted on its Web site (www.ymsnp.gov.tw). The central visitor center has displays, a theater, a shop, and an information counter. Five other information centers are distributed around the park.

A park very near a large city has advantages and disadvantages. In terms of disadvantages, conflicts over land use with various governmental agencies, businesses, and local residents are never-ending. The park administration is under great pressure to give way to more intensive development. Overuse is also a problem. The more visitors there are, the more shops open, the more vendors stray along the way. Although vendors sometimes do provide convenient services, park policemen often have to play hide-and-seek with them.

However, there are clear advantages of having national parks near large cities because they are highly visible to the public. In the case of Yangmingshan, the park is visited often by well-educated people who ask for detailed information about nature, history, and management. Demand for interpretation is high.

There are also many educated volunteers who love to serve as interpreters. It is not unusual for people retired from high-level managerial or teaching jobs to want to be volunteer interpreters or simply help visitors. They want to do something meaningful.

The Yangmingshan National Park Administration takes advantage of this and has organized an extensive volunteer program. Because of the huge pool of volunteers, the park is able to recruit a large number of highly qualified people. The park provides intensive interpretation all year around, both in the field and at visitor and information centers. Interpreters are always available to the public during office hours. In addition, they are available to help with outreach programs to schools, neighborhoods, and nongovernmental organizations. In 2002, a uniformed team of park volunteers was pleased to help organize and provide support to the fourth East Asian conference of IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas.

Many of these volunteers speak fluent English or Japanese. And they are often very well-informed people who provide unexpected assistance to foreign visitors.

In 2002, park volunteers provided 44,414 hours of service and served 955,933 visitors, including 9752 groups.

Volunteers are recruited from the general public through announcements made at the same time each year. Applicants are mostly people retired from careers in business, government, and (often) teaching. Occasionally, they are residents of the park. In addition, university students from a variety of disciplines are recruited for summer service. The students often bring in new ideas and new scientific knowledge.

Volunteers mainly work as tour guides, at visitor and information centers as service staff, or as administrative support staff. A few participate in environmental surveillance.

Prospective volunteers undergo a training and certification process. Courses, taught by experts and government staff, focus on both conservation and presentation techniques. Volunteers are required to serve within one year after completing a basic training course, and are certified after passing an evaluation.

Volunteers receive material benefits that include a transportation allowance, accident insurance, medical insurance, a free uniform, and participation in park training courses. Formal recognition is given for long or exceptional service. Although a volunteer’s certification is rarely canceled, a temporary suspension of duties will be applied in cases of alleged wrong-doing.

To encourage cooperation among volunteers, the park administration has assisted volunteers in establishing a national park guides association. Publications, network-messaging, meetings, and conferences, as well as training courses help keep members in touch with each other. Volunteers discuss how to upgrade skills and to achieve organizational objectives. This association has twice received a "Best Volunteer Group Performance" medal.

This paper copyright © 2004 International Union for

Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

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