Elaine Hsiao - “I See the Future as a Catalyst for Cooperation”

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Elaine Hsiao - “I See the Future as a Catalyst for Cooperation”

Fellow discusses the need to focus on community involvement during peace and conflict management issues

Elaine Hsiao speaking at The Next Frontier: Transboundary Cooperation for Biodiversity and Peace

Salzburg Global Seminar prides itself on its interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral approach. Elaine Hsiao is just one of many Salzburg Global Fellows who embodies that interdisciplinary spirit in her work. As an interdisciplinary legal scholar, specializing in transboundary conservation areas, conflict, and environmental peace building, her research integrates critical legal geography and political ecology with security, peace, and conflict studies in the context of cross-border conservation. Work like this explains why Hsiao was selected to attend the session The Next Frontier: Transboundary Cooperation for Biodiversity and Peace.

During the session, Hsiao shared her work in Central America, where she developed a service-learning expedition in Parque International La Amistad – La Amistad International Park. The strategy followed by Panama and Costa Rica regarding the supervision of this transboundary protected area has been a strong inspiration for her; she sees this as an example of “the ideal situation,” as both countries have managed to work together to control the area with no need to use the army, considering their ongoing cross-border collaboration as an “imperative.”  

For Hsiao, the role of communities is integral when looking at peace and conflict management issues as in many cases the effective conservation of the spaces depends on them. Therefore, it is fundamental to ensure that community members feel included as they can be those agents able to protect the land or pose a threat to its safety at the same time. Park rangers are a strong contributor to positive community relations as they act as intermediaries between institutions and local people. Hsiao insists on emphasizing the work of park rangers in many other issues, such as defending the community members’ interests and fostering engagement with tourists and researchers like her.

Hsiao believes different aspects of peace have to be included in transboundary agreements, addressing different perspectives. To begin with, she advocates for the defense of international peace, linked to the cordial cooperation between countries. Next, she calls for the need to promote the successful collaboration amongst the members of a society, taking into consideration social peace-related issues. Finally, she stands in the defense of ecological peace or working toward the protection of living in harmony with nature. According to Hsiao, the biggest challenge to overcome when implementing transboundary agreements concerns putting all of these factors into practice, and being able to successfully integrate them.

In addition to her work in Central America and as representative for Small Island Developing States and the Union of Comoros at the United Nations on climate change and environmental issues, Hsiao has also studied water conservation issues, a field where she thinks it easier to achieve greater collaborations between diverse stakeholders. “Everyone feels connected to water and is conscious about how much we need it, so they are willing to cooperate and protect it as a resource,” she says.

Hsiao expects that we will continue to develop similar positive attitudes towards other environmental resources and issues too. The future of transboundary areas relies on the understanding the purpose and relevance of mutual aid.

“I believe that we will reach a certain point that will make us understand that the only way to success is to cooperate. I see the future as a catalyst for cooperation,” Hsiao concludes.


Elaine Hsiao was a participant in the Salzburg Global session The Next Frontier: Transboundary Cooperation for Biodiversity and Peace, which is part of the multi-year Parks for the Planet Forum. This session is being hosted in partnership with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), MAVA Foundation, Arcus Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, German cooperation (Deutsche Zusammenarbeit), Huffington Foundation, Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Foundation, and others. More information on the session can be found here: http://www.salzburgglobal.org/?id=7583