North Section of Xueshan Mountain Range, Taoyuan City (14276)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: North Section of Xueshan Mountain Range, Taoyuan City
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.7667, Longitude: 121.4333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 250 to 2130
Area of KBA (km2): 81.6988
Protected area coverage (%): 96.82
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extent of this site: located in both Taoyuan and Taipei Counties, and completely covers the Chatienshan Nature Reserve, Daguanshan Nature Reserve, and the Dongyanshan and Manyueyuan Forest Recreational Areas. This area is strongly affected by the northeast monsoon in winter. Furthermore, the altitude of more than 1,000 meters is another factor contributing to clouds and fog, and low temperature throughout the year. The forest cover still keeps quite intact. Important plant species include natural conifer forests, conifer & broadleaf mixed forests, broadleaf forests, Fagus hayatae forests, man-made forests, second-growth forests, and grasslands. Among these, the broadleaf forests consist of the most extensive forest. The followings are mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests and man-made forest. In this area, the Chatienshan Nature Reserve is one of the least disturbed natural forests in northern Taiwan. Plant and animals species are correspondingly abundant here. This area also forms the major part of the watersheds of both the Shihmen and Feitsui Reservoirs. Daguanshan, Dongyanshan and Manyueyuan are very popular tourist and recreational spots. All the lands within this site are public and managed by Taiwan Forestry Bureau.
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 A2 criterion species: 13 endemic species are commonly seen here: Formosan Whistling Thrush, Formosan Blue Magpie, Formosan Yellow Tit, Formosan Yuhina, Steere’s Liocichia, Formosan Barwing, White-eared Sibia, Collared Bush Robin, Mikado Pheasant, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, White-throated Hill Partridge, Taiwan Firecrest, and Formosan Laughing Thrush. • At this site, 104 species in 35 families have been recorded. Most of the birds are seen in the broadleaf forests. Forty-one of the recorded bird species are protected including the Indian Black Eagle and Brown Wood Owl are threatened species. Non-bird biodiversity: • Fagus hayatae is among the 11 rare endemic plant species. A large and pure stand of the species can be found in Lalashan at Taipei and Taoyuan County. This site is the southern-most distribution of this species in the northern hemisphere.
Delineation rationale: 2015: 2001 IBA site area changed from 7973 ha to 11,328 ha.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised (98%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 14 | |
| Forest | 84 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • Daguanshan, Dongyanshan and Manyueyuan are popular tourist and recreational areas, so there are corresponding pressures on the habitat, causing great disturbance to wildlife. • Extensive area is reclaimed for growing high-mountain, cold-loving vegetables.
Additional information
References: • Yie, J. F. 1986. Bird investigations at Baling. Taiwan Wild Birds: 13-18. WBFT. • Yang, R. H. and G. H. Deng. 1992. Introduction to the plant and animal ecology of the Daguanshan Nature Reserve. • Wang, Y. and G. B. Wang. 1993. Wildlife investigations at the Chatienshan Nature Reserve. Biology Research Institute, National Taiwan Normal University. • Zhan, C. C. et al. 1996. Handbook of the Protected Wildlife. Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute. • Wild Bird Society of Taoyuan. 1998. Beauty of the Colors and Sounds Interpretive Pamphlet to the Avian Ecology of Taoyuan County’s Mountain Areas. Wild Bird Society of Taoyuan. • Chen, W. J. 1998. Investigation report of the amphibians in Taoyuan County. Taoyuan: 10.