Watzuwei Nature Reserve (14270)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Watzuwei Nature Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.1667, Longitude: 121.4000
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 1.89979
Protected area coverage (%): 7.40
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extent of this site: on the north is the center line of the Tanshui River; on the south is a public road north to Dakanjiao levee. This IBA faces Tatun Mt. on the north and Guanyin Mt. on the south. On the east is a wastewater treatment area, which connects with the shore of the Tanshui River. Watzuwei is situated on the south bank of the Tanshui estuary; the twisting of the land blocks the tides, so for years the river has incessantly carried valuable sediments which have collected to form sand flats. Furthermore, under the influence of oceanic tidal fluctuations, a unique landform of twisting advancing wetland lagoons has been created. Additionally, these sand flats at the intersection of Watzuwci and the sea and river have moved with the flow direction of the Tanshui R., extending seaward more than 100 m. This natural environment is suitable for the growth of mangroves, and this is the northernmost extent of mangrove distribution in Taiwan.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: IBA Al criterion species: Chinese Egret. • Each April to September, 1-3 Chinese Egrets are recorded as they pass through on migration. In the past 10 years, they have been recorded in most years, but the numbers are not stable, with a maximum of 18 birds in 1985. Estimates are that each year more than 20 Chinese Egrets use this site. • There are abundant avian resources here with more than 160 species recorded. This is an important stopover site on the migration routes. • Rare species recorded include Oriental White Stork, Black Kite, Lesser Frigate Bird. Non-bird biodiversity: • The mangrove, Kandelia Kandelia candel, is found here, forming the northernmost mangrove stand in the northern hemisphere.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (26%) | not utilised (3%) | water management (71%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 32 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 32 | |
| Marine Neritic | 32 | |
| Forest | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • The sand flats exposed by the tidal cycles collect trash washed from upstream on the Tanshui R. • Fishermen and tourists throw their trash anywhere convenient, greatly dirtying the sand flats. • Before 1990, the landward side of the IBA was agricultural fields, and was an important stopover site for migrating waterfowls. Later the land changed to industrial uses, affecting the numbers of waterfowls using the site. • The sandy areas of the Tanshui River mangrove forest are becoming more terrestrial.
Additional information
References: • Kuo, D. R. and F R. Lin. 1992. Bird investigations at the wetlands of Tanshui River bank (1). WBFT Bird Conservation Research Series, No. 1. • Kuo, D. R. and F R. Lin. 1993. Bird investigations at the wetlands of Tanshui River bank (2). WBFT Bird Conservation Research Series, No. 5. • Wetlands Conservation Workgroup. 1994. 1994 Planning examples of environmentally sensitive areas at the coast of Taiwan- bird, mangrove, and wetland investigations. Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, Taiwan. • WBFT 1996. Bird investigation of the wetlands along the Tanshui River (3). WBFT Conservation Series, No. 14. • WBFT 1996. Bird investigation of the wetlands along the Tanshui River (4). WBFT Conservation Series, No. 14. • Li, P. D. 1996. Watzuwei Nature Reserve Introductory Handbook. Bureau of Agriculture, Taipei County. • Gao, C. Y and P D. Li. 1997. Bird investigation of the wetlands along the Tanshui River (5). Wild Bird Society of Taipei. • Watzuwei Nature Reserve Conservation Plan. Bureau of Agriculture, Taipei County. • Watzuwei Mangrove Nature Reserve: http://ten.yam.org.tw/ntu/ntull.htm. • Council of Agriculture Website: http://www.coa.gov. tw/externa l/preserve/reserve/index.htm Compiler: Woei-horng Fung, Ming-liang Chiang