Ruei-yan, Nantou County (14287)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Ruei-yan, Nantou County
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.1333, Longitude: 121.2500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1210 to 3416
Area of KBA (km2): 25.83487
Protected area coverage (%): 86.29
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 Provincial Highway 14 and north; the eastern border is the boundary between Nantou County’s Renai Village and Hualien County’s Hsiulin Village; and the western border runs along a line formed by Wufanaiwei Mt, N. Hehuan Mt, Meisong Mt., and the Lihsing agricultural road and east. This IBA is completely encompassed in the Ruiyan River Wildlife Major Habitat, which belongs to Forest Compartments 132-135 of the Puli Division under the management of the Nantou Forest District. This site is located at the geographical center of Taiwan; the vegetation diversity is high, and includes native broadleaf forests, mixed broadleaf-coniferous forests, coniferous forests, high-montane scrubs and grasslands, and forest riverine ecosystems. This area is representative of all the mountain vegetation 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 A2 criterion species: 11 endemic species are commonly seen here: The conservation targets are the 11 endemic species found here including White-eared Sibia, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Mikado Pheasant, White-throated Hill Partridge, Formosan Laughing Thrush, Formosan Yellow Tit, Formosan Whistling Thrush, Collared Bush Robin, Steere’s Liocichia, Formosan Yuhina and Formosan Barwing. • A total of 95 species has been recorded at this site, among which are the threatened species: Indian Black Eagle and Brown Wood Owl; and the protected species: Asian Crested Goshawk, White-backed Woodpecker, Grey-faced Woodpecker, White-throated Laughing Thrush, Rufous Laughing Thrush, Collared Owlet, Green-backed Tit, Red-headed Tit, Blue Shortwing, Thicket Flycatcher, Vivid Niltava, and Yellow-throated Minivet. In particular, there are stable populations of the large Phasianidae and the Strigidae. Non-bird biodiversity: • At this site, 747 species of vascular plants in 145 families have been recorded, including fragmented populations of the valuable Taiwan Yew Taxus mairei, Formosan Michelia Michelia formosana and Formosan Red Cypress Chamaecyparis formosensis forests and the rare Brassiopsis formosana and Nengkao Sweet Leaf Symplocos nokoensis. • There are a total of 26 mammal species in 11 families. In March 1999 the first Formosan Tube-nosed Bat Murina puta was discovered overwintering here. Other animals include the Small Chinese Civet Viverricula indica pallida and Formosan Ferret-Badger Melogale moschata subaurantiaca. • Twenty species of reptiles have been recorded including the Formosan salamander Hynobius formosanus, as well as 6 species of amphibians.
Delineation rationale: 2015: 2001 IBA site area changed from 1450 ha to 2583 ha.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 77 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 6 | |
| Grassland | 6 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Other | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • There is illegal hunting and cutting of rare species. On Provincial Highway 14 are the Chingjing Farm and Hehuan Mountain tourist destinations, with good communications, so the rare Taiwan Yew contained in this area can easily be cut illegally • At the edges, there is illegal opening of fields. • The waterways carry away large volumes of the water resources, affecting the riverine habitats.
Additional information
References: • Chen, M. Y. 1992 & 1993. Ecological Investigation of Vegetation at Ruiyan River Nature Reserve (I & II). Taiwan Forestry Bureau, Taiwan Provincial Government. Yao, C. D. 1997. Initial Research on the Biology of Swinhoe’s Pheasant. Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute. • Yao, C. D. 1998. Breeding and Ecology of Swinhoe’s Pheasant at the Rujyan River Nature Reserve. Proceedings of the Third Cross-Strait Bird conference. Nantou Forest District Administrative Office, 1999. Management and Conservation Plan for the Ruiyan River Nature Reserve. • Council of Agriculture, 1999. Executive Report on 1999 Nature Conservation Work. COA, Executive Yuan. • Council of Agriculture Nature Conservation Website: http.//www.coa.gov.tw/external/preserve/preserve/habitat/ha5.htm • Taiwan Forestry Bureau, COA. http://www.forest.gov.tw/frames/frame03.htm