Tatu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge (14281)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Tatu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.2000, Longitude: 120.4833
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 28.65282
Protected area coverage (%): 81.49
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extent of this site: the northern border is the north shore levee of the Tatu River south to the boundary between Shianshi Village and Lugang Township; the eastern border is the Shengang levee, Shihgu section of the seawall, Ehliao north levee, and the Yupu west levee; the western border extends out 3 km from the levee into the Taiwan Strait. This IBA was once the largest among Taiwan’s coastal wetlands in terms of species and number of birds, being listed by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as one of the 12 largest wetlands in Asia. From outside to inside of the wetland are marine areas, 4-km wide intertidal zone, rivers, sand flats, mud beaches, newly formed land, agricultural land, and fish cultivation ponds. The intertidal zone and mud beaches support abundant benthic organisms, creating important feeding resources for birds. Together with the area’s extensive flats, this was once an important stopover site for migrating birds. However, after the Taichung thermoelectric plant was built on the north shore, with construction of a levee and the use of water circulation, the coastal environments were seriously affected. This caused the Tatu Estuary to slant to the south by 18°, and the upstream mud and sand moving towards the south covered the nutritious sand flats, killing the benthic organisms. Thus migrating birds had no way of feeding here and moved on further south to roost.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: IBA A1 criterion species: Saunder’s Gull (SG), Black-faced Spoonbill (BFS) Year 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 No. of SG 50 86 70 25 37 385 316 182 300 208 113 No. of BFS - - - - - - 6 5 2 4 1 • At this site, 235 species in 43 families have been recorded. • Rare and endangered species include: Chinese Egret, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Painted Snipe, Eastern Collared Pratincole, Little Tern, Osprey, and Oriental Ibis. Other protected species include Gray-faced Buzzard Eagle, Grey Frog Hawk, and Brown Shrike.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (24%) | not utilised (46%) | urban/industrial/transport (2%) | water management (26%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 38 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 19 | |
| Marine Neritic | 38 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 4 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • Currently the Tatu River Estuary has a small number of illegal aquaculture ponds which will influence bird habitat. • The Western Coast Highway is slated to pass through the edge of the Tatu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge. Impacts caused by highway construction and traffic after the highway is finished are expected to greatly degrade the refuge. • After development of the Changbin Industrial Park, sand removal for land reclamation covered numerous wetland areas, destroying the coastal and hydraulic characteristics. This has imposed a great threat on the existence of the Tatu Estuary wetlands. • The Changbin recreational area plan and the New Changbin recreational area alternate plan represent great development pressures, and include the construction of high dirt mounds, a water park, restaurants, roads, etc. • Trash and waste dumping is a problem. For example, in July 1996, when Typhoon Herb passed through, large piles of trash were deposited on both river banks. • Houses and industry upstream on the Tatu River release their wastes into the river, including heavy metals pollution, creating a serious problem. • Farmers hope that the area east of the Chungchang Bridge can be excluded from the scope of the reserve.
Additional information
References: • National Chung Hsing University, Department of Civil Engineering. 1996. Tatu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge management and administration plan. Research Commissioned by the Changhua County Government. • Yuan, H. W. 1997. Tutu Rivermouth Waterbird Reserve. Research plan for wildlife reserve management and administration situation. • Taichung County Natural Ecology Conservation Group. 1997. Bird resource investigations and environmental monitoring report for the Tutu Rivermouth Waterbird Reserve. Taichung County Government. • Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute. 1997. Research on the Establishment of Wildlife Refuge Environmental Monitoring Methods (1/3). Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. • Han, N. C. and C. T. Chiu. 1998. Investigation on the Coastal Wetlands of Taiwan. Min Sheng Daily Office. • Taichung County, Forestry Bureau. 1999. Conservation Plan for the Tutu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge. Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. • National Taiwan University, Department of Zoology. 1999. Wildlife Refuges of Taiwan. Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. • Wild Bird Association of Taiwan. 1999. Habitat improvement plan for the Tatu Rivermouth Wildlife Refuge. Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. Compilers Tien-Ti Wu, Te-Chieh Chen