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Nature ConservationAs introduced by the Taiwan Yearbook 2007:
Taiwan's government has actively promoted nature conservation since the 1980s. In 1981, it enacted the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, which mandated the creation of a system of nature reserves and protection of rare and valuable plant species. In 1989, the Wildlife Conservation Act was enacted, classifying rare species of fauna in Taiwan into three levels of protection -- "endangered," "rare and valuable," and "other conservation-deserving wildlife" -- and prescribing penalties for violations of the law. The Council of Agriculture (COA) conducts long-term surveys on local plant ecology, such as mangrove distribution, as well as research on indigenous or migrant species, such as the Formosan landlocked salmon, Formosan serow, Formosan macaque, green sea turtle, and black-faced spoonbill. In 1993, a wildlife protection unit was established under the COA to investigate violations of related laws. In 2004, a forest and nature conservation police force of 176 officers was established to further strengthen enforcement. Biodiversity Conservation Despite its small area, Taiwan is home to approximately 150,000 different forms of life, representing about 1.5 percent of all species found on earth. Around 30 percent of these are endemic. In August 2001, the Executive Yuan formulated an action plan based on the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The plan, which was revised in 2004, calls for the promotion of biosafety; management of alien species; restoration of degraded ecosystems; research on biological diversity and related changes; establishment of protected areas; and preservation of traditional knowledge through the involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities. Increased public awareness and international cooperation are also emphasized. Habitat Protection Taiwan's diverse topography endows it with a full range of climatic zones and an extremely wide variety of flora and fauna. To protect these diverse ecosystems, the government has set aside almost 20 percent of Taiwan's total land area to create a multi-tiered system of protected areas that comprises 7 national parks, 19 nature reserves, 6 forest reserves, 17 wildlife refuges, and 32 major wildlife habitats. National Parks Taiwan has a comprehensive national park system that balances conservation, recreation, and research. The newest park, Dongsha Marine National Park, was formed in January 2007 to protect coral reef ecology on the Dongsha (Pratas) Islands in the South China Sea. For conservation purposes, tourists will not be allowed to visit the area for at least five years. Nature Reserves Taiwan's 19 nature reserves cover approximately 64,500 hectares of land and sea, ranging from a five-hectare plot in Kaohsiung that houses a bubbling mud volcano to a 47,000-hectare forest area surrounding Dawu Mountain. Twelve of these nature reserves are directly managed by the Forestry Bureau under the COA, while the rest are either managed by local government agencies or the COA's Forestry Research Institute. The following list names Taiwan's nature reserves and their primary objects of protection:
Wildlife Refuges Taiwan's 17 wildlife refuges, which are listed below, encompass almost 26,000 hectares of land and sea:
Animal Protection The Animal Protection Act was promulgated in 1998. To better enforce this law, in January 2000, the Council of Agriculture launched an animal protection program and enacted a set of regulations covering pet registration, pet stores, and animal welfare. The COA has also established a website offering pet registration and a lost-and-found service for pet owners. A 2005 survey showed that 618,000 pet dogs were registered in Taiwan. Campaigns promoting pet sterilization have also been conducted. As of 2005, about 1,000 licenses were issued to pet stores engaged in commercial pet breeding, trading, and sheltering. The slaughter and sale of dogs and other pets for food are prohibited, with violators facing heavy fines. All counties in Taiwan operate modern animal shelters in accordance with COA standard procedures. Approximately 600 animal inspectors have been appointed by the government and 1,000 volunteers trained to investigate animal welfare cases. September has been designated Animal Protection Month. Forest Reserves Over half of Taiwan is covered by forest. Six forest reserves -- comprising over 21,000 hectares of natural forest -- have been set up to protect forest areas considered to possess unique natural characteristics. While these reserves are subject to multiple-use policies, conservation is emphasized over development. The Forestry Bureau conducts regular surveys to identify different ecosystems and rare plant and animal species, while formulating plans for long-term projects and educational tourism within the reserves. The Forestry Bureau operates a network of hostels located within forest reserves. The following list names Taiwan's forest reserves and their primary objects of protection:
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