Nature Preserves and Wildlife Refuges

As introduced by the Yearbook of Republic of China:

The Council of Agriculture administers land protected under two designations: nature reserves and wildlife refuges.

Nature Reserves

The COA has overseen the establishment of 18 nature reserves in Taiwan. The reserves range from a five-hectare plot to protect volcanic land forms in Kaohsiung to the 47,000 hectare forest reserve surrounding Mount Tawu. Altogether more than 63,200 hectares of land have been designated as nature reserves. Eleven of the nature reserves are directly managed by the Taiwan Forestry Bureau, which is under the Taiwan Provincial Government. The other nature reserves are managed by such agencies as the Taipei City Government's Bureau of Reconstruction, the Penghu County Government, and the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute. Each of these managing bodies is responsible to the COA, which ensures that the reserves are run in full accordance with the law.

The 18 nature reserves are:

• Chatienshan Nature Reserve
• Chuyunshan Nature Reserve
• Hapen Nature Reserve
• Kenting Uplifted Coral Reef Nature Reserve
• Kuantu Nature Reserve
• Miaoli Sanyi Huoyenshan Nature Reserve
• Nanao Broad-Leaved Forest Nature Reserve
• Penghu Columnar Basalt Nature Reserve
• Pinglin Taiwan Keteleeria Nature Reserve
• Taitung Hungyeh Village/Cycas Nature Reserve
• Taiwan Pleione Nature Reserve
• Tamsui River Mangrove Nature Reserve
• Tawushan Nature Reserve
• Tawu Taiwan Amerntotaxus Nature Reserve
• Watzuwei Nature Reserve
• Wushanting Mud Volcano Nature Reserve
• Wushihpi Coastal Nature Reserve
• Yuanyang Nature Reserve

Wildlife Refuges

In addition to nature reserves, a total of 11 wildlife refuges, encompassing over 11,400 hectares, have been established in the Taiwan area. The first to be established was the Cat Islets Seabird Refuge. Located in the southwest corner of the Pescadores, the refuge encompasses both Greater and Lesser Cat Islets. The islets serve as a rookery and breeding ground for thousands of terns, and over 44 species of sea birds, most of them migratory, have been sighted here. Designated as a seabird refuge in May 1991, the Cat Islets refuge is a little over 36 hectares in area.

Next to be established was the Nantzuhsien River Wildlife Refuge in Kaohsiung County's Sanmin Township. The refuge is home to ten species of river fish and 80 species of birds, including the plumbeous water redstart, the little forktail, the gray-throated minivet, and the Formosan whistling thrush. The Nantsehsien refuge covers 274 hectares and was set up in May 1993.

The Wuwei Harbor Waterbird Refuge is located near Suao in Taiwan's northeastern county of Ilan. Surrounded by diverse coastal forests, the 102 hectare site was designated as a bird refuge in September 1993 to protect its wetlands and bird habitat. Lakes, marshes, and streams within the site create an ideal environment for wildfowl such as the migratory ducks and geese that stop in Taiwan during the winter. According to one survey, close to 140 kinds of mountain and migratory birds frequent the Wuwei Creek site. Every winter, from November to February, some 3,000 ducks and geese from 12 different species rest here.

The Taipei City Waterbird Refuge is home to 79 species of waterfowl and 41 species of plants. This 203 hectare wildlife refuge, set up in November 1993, serves as a natural classroom for Taipei citizens during the bird-watching season.

Another urban area refuge is the Ssutsao Wildlife Refuge in Tainan City. The refuge is an important wetland site in southern Taiwan where 40 species of wild birds permanently reside and 21 endangered and rare species of birds have been sighted. Designated as a wildlife refuge in November 1994, the 515 hectare site also contains three kinds of rare mangroves.

In addition to the Cat Islets refuge, Penghu County also contains the Wangan Island Green Turtle Refuge. As the number of green turtles in the Taiwan area is falling due to environmental degradation and poaching, the 23 hectare refuge was set aside in January 1995 to serve as a breeding ground and refuge for nesting green turtles. Wangan Island is one of the few green turtle habitats that remain largely untouched by human intrusion.

The Tatu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge, which straddles the border between Taichung County and Changhua County, is a diverse collection of coastal waters, rivers, sandbanks, tidal flats, farmland, and fish farms. The wide plains and abundance of nourishing organisms brought in by the tides attract an enormous number of migratory birds, and 24 protected species have been sighted here. Established in February 1995, the 2,670 hectare refuge serves as an outdoor classroom for the residents of central Taiwan.

The Mienhua Islet and Huaping Islet Wildlife Refuge is located in the waters north of Keelung City. Home to rare bird species and characterized by fascinating geology, the two uninhabited islets were classified as major wildlife habitats in June 1995 and then upgraded to wildlife refuges in March 1996.

Established in September 1996, the Lanyang Rivermouth Waterbird Refuge is located at the confluence of Lanyang, Ilan, and Tungshan Rivers in Ilan County. The 206 hectare site is characterized by a wide range of topographical features including coastal waters, rivers, sand bars, and fertile land. This wetland area attracts a great number of migratory birds due to the abundant food sources it provides. In the Lanyang Plain, this refuge is the best location for bird watching, as 231 species of birds have been sighted here.

In October 1997, the Taichung County government announced the establishment of the Formosan Landlocked Salmon Refuge. A member of the glacial relic species, the Formosan landlocked salmon inhabits cold, high mountain streams as a result of the alternating effect of the geological changes that occurred during the Ice Age. Exhaustive fishing, water pollution, and other human factors over the years have done great damage to the salmon's natural habitat, causing the distribution and population to shrink dramatically. At present, the fish is only found in the Chichiawan Stream at the Wuling section of the upper reaches of the Tachia River and in certain sections of the river on Mount Snow. In 1989, the COA announced the Formosan landlocked salmon an endangered species in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Law.

Announced in 1998 as the latest wildlife refuge, the Hsinwulue River Wildlife Refuge models the Kaohsiung Nantzuhsien Refuge.