Redevelopment or retreat for informal settlers? A case study in Shezidao, Taipei, Taiwan

This article explores managed retreat as a climate change adaptation option for small-scale, yet complicated, informal settlements in a flood-prone urban area. Shezidao is located at the confluence of the Keelung and Tamsui rivers in the heart of Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei. Since floods are common in Shezidao, dwellers have attempted to mitigate the risks with improvised structures that fall short of a comprehensive solution. This article suggests the issue of informal settlement on a flood plain must be solved through managed, rather than haphazard, retreat. The article further suggests aligning the central and local governments’ public objectives and connecting social housing policy for the potential relocation of informal settlers as main strategies to provide solutions to the communities at risk. As climate change continues unabated, adaptation measures should be planned to mitigate future disaster risks that might occur in urban informal settlements.