ABSTRACT
It is argued that sustainable development, while good in theory, is difficult to apply and that a sustainable livelihoods approach may offer better prospects of practical success. At the core of this approach are appropriate institutional arrangements for decision-making. However, the decision-making processes of indigenous groups are part of their culture and vary substantially from those of the majority society with which they must engage. This chapter examines the experience of a Cou community in Chashan, in the mountainous interior of Taiwan, as it has striven to diversify livelihoods through the incorporation of tourism. The important role of a prominent individual, inter-sectoral linkages and mechanisms for the distribution of benefits are highlighted. The case demonstrates the utility of a sustainable livelihoods approach and the importance of institutional arrangements for its successful implementation.
