Participatory Co-design Model for Facilitating Local Community in Harmony with Nature: A Case Study on Wu-Fu Farmland Ecological Refugia Pond

In recent years, sustainability science has increasingly emphasized the integration of transdisciplinary knowledge and sustainability transitions, alongside approaches to facilitate transformative change for sustainable development. This highlights the critical importance of practices and facilitation methods in addressing the current challenges of sustainability. To tackle the complex environmental and climate challenges of today, it is essential to integrate local communities and stakeholder participation into practical solutions for real-world problems. Moreover, further research is still required to clarify the intricate connections, governance, and management interactions between social and ecological systems.

This study focuses on the Wu-Fu community as its research site and adopts a participatory action research (PAR) approach, where the researcher also assumes the role of a local actor to actively facilitate the planning and construction of ecological refuge ponds in farmland areas. Through the establishment of a local communication platform, the study promotes participatory co-design, ensuring community members' engagement and sense of ownership throughout the design process to achieve long-term sustainable management. Lastly, the study employs the lens of actor-network theory (ANT) to explore the complex networks between human society and nature in the local context. It also integrates the InVEST model to quantitatively evaluate the ecological refuge ponds' contributions to habitat quality, ecological benefits, and local development. Addressing the dual needs of agricultural production and ecological conservation, this research proposes a scientifically grounded and practice-oriented strategic framework to establish a successful model of coexistence between society and nature.