Upstream Section of Beigang River, Nantou County (14286)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Upstream Section of Beigang River, Nantou County
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.1500, Longitude: 120.1000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 900 to 3250
Area of KBA (km2): 128.57583
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extent of this site: the northern border is the boundary between Nantou County’s Renai Village and Taichung County’s Heping Village; the southern border is the north shore of the Peikang River, the eastern border is the western edge of the upstream of the Peikang River; and the western border is the eastern bank of the Weimin River. This area is mostly comprised of undeveloped virgin forests, from high to low elevations and separated into Kanishi cane Sinobambusa kunishii forests, coniferous forests, and broadleaf forests. Within the site are many water systems centered on Baigou South. Mt., at an elevation of 2,873 m which is the watershed for many of the northwest-to-southeast trending tributaries of the Peikang River, including the Jiuhsian, Bubuer, and Tiebiluen Streams.
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: including Mikado Pheasant, White-throated Hill Partridge, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, White-eared Sibia, Steere’s Liocichla, Formosan Yuhina, Formosan Blue Magpie, Taiwan Firecrest, Formosan Barwing, Formosan Yellow Tit, Collared Bush Robin, Formosan Whistling Thrush, and Formosan Laughing Thrush. • In addition to the endemic species, the initial investigations at Tiebiluen Stream recorded 40 species, including the following protected species: Asian Crested Goshawk, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey-faced Woodpecker, White-tailed Blue Robin, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Melodious Laughing Thrush, Rufous Laughing Thrush, Vivid Niltava, Red-headed Tit and Green-backed Tit. Non-bird biodiversity: • According to interviews, the area is still supposed to harbor the Formosan Black Bear Selenarctos thibetanus formosanus.
Delineation rationale: 2015: 2001 IBA site area changed from 12,300 ha to 12,855 ha; easting changed from 121d06mE to 120d06mE.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 24 | |
| Forest | 64 | |
| Other | 10 | |
| Grassland | 1 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • There is illegal cutting of timber. • Road construction along the edge of the IBA site may induce the following impacts: • Near habitations, the mountain forests are slowly being converted to tea plantations, high-mountain cold-loving vegetables, and other economic crops. • On the rivers, trout aquiculture is being built. • The building of lodges is accompanied by multitudes of visitors. • There are natural disasters, such as typhoons, rock slides, etc. • There is illegal hunting and collecting.