ECOSYSTEM, ENVIRONMENTAL-QUALITY AND ECOTECHNOLOGY IN THE TAIPEI METROPOLITAN REGION

The ''self-design'' capability of a natural environment is ignored in currently practiced environmental technology and urban planning profes sionals. Therefore, we propose an ecological engineering approach to c onduct scenarios for environmental management in the metropolitan regi on of Taipei. Ecological energetic analysis is applied to assess the e cological economic status and the role and contribution of solid waste and water resources in the Taipei metropolitan region. The benefit of an ecological engineering approach to the environmental quality and s ustainable development of the metropolitan region is evaluated using e mergy synthesis. The results indicate that Taipei metropolitan region operates its activity mainly on the imported fuels and goods and servi ces, which account for 90% of total emergy used. The treatment of wast e as resources and the use of the self-design capability of the natura l environment according to the ecological engineering approach can gen erate positive contribution and aid the environmental quality and prod uctive potential of the ecological economic system. It is concluded th at ecological sustainability should be used as a reference of environm ental quality for urban development policy.