Kaoping River (14305)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Kaoping River
Central coordinates: Latitude: 22.5000, Longitude: 120.4000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 23.7104
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extent of this site: The Kaoping River, also called the Lower Tanshui River, or Tanshui River, runs from Chishan to the Linyuan Industrial Area where it empties into the sea. It forms the boundary between Kaohsiung and Pingdung Counties, and this is the origin of its name. The Kaoping River is 170.9 km long, and its source is Yushan at an elevation of 3,997 m. The watershed encompasses 3,256.85 km2, and flows through 24 administrative districts of Kaohsiung and Pingdung. The Kaoping River is the second largest river in Taiwan. Abundant ecological resources can be found along the river. Lofty peaks and ridges of the high mountains and precipitous stream valleys are the characteristics of the upstream section where high-mountain birds can be found at the stream banks. When the river reaches the middle section, the river valleys slowly broaden, forming several alluvial valleys which attract many mid-elevation birds that move about and feed. There are agricultural fields along much of the lower reaches to the estuary at the sea, and the banks are covered with dense growth of grasses which forms important shelter and habitats for many migrating birds as well as local resident species. Diversified wild birds can be observed at the estuary wetlands, tidally influenced flats, agricultural lands, and areas of flowing water. Various bird species come to visit this site with the changes in tides, in the climate, and in the seasons.
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: Black-faced Spoonbill with a maximum of 5 birds (Aug. 1994). IBA A4i criterion species: Great Cormorant with a maximum of 1,200 birds (Jan. 2000). • At the estuary, a total of 141 species has been recorded including the rare Black Stork, Tufted Duck, and White-fronted Goose. • Several investigations of different scopes have been carried out on terrestrial birds along the Kaoping River: from the estuary upstream for 8 km, 125 species in 38 families have been recorded; in the section of river containing the Linyuanwan, Kaoping and Liling Bridges, 109 species were recorded; and from mid to upstream sections at Chongdashu Village to the estuary, 142 species were recorded in 39 families. Non-bird biodiversity: • Ecological investigations in the Kaoping River watershed have revealed 31 endemic freshwater fish in 26 genera and 12 families. • Numerous crab species of abundant quantity can be observed, including the commonly seen fiddler crabs Uca arcuata, U. lactea, and U. borealis, as well as other species like Helice formosensis, and many of the rare U. dussumieri and U. perplexa.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (7%) | energy production and mining (1%) | not utilised (1%) | urban/industrial/transport (1%) | water management (87%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 48 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • The principal source of pollution in the Kaoping River is the discharge of wastewater from pig farms, accounting for 1/3 of the pollution load. Domestic waste water, and industrial wastewater account for another 1/3. In addition there is pollution from trash in the riverbed. All theses pollutants have seriously threatened the Kaoping River. The river has no appropriate fish channel design, which affects the upstream movements of fish species, leading to a decrease in fish populations. So the construction of dams is the greatest killer of fish. In an analysis of the water quality, except for the upstream sections that are mostly free of pollution, the remaining sections of the river have medium to serious levels of pollutants. • There is new construction of small-scale incinerators. • Excessive gravel extraction plus flushing by river, leading to bridge support columns being exposed and affecting public safety. On 27 August 2000, because of serious decrease in the level of the riverbed of the Kaoping River, the Kaoping Bridge collapsed and fell into the river. • The proposal of constructing Meinung Reservoir implies another threat. • On 12 July 2000, 250-ton organic solvent was dumped into the river and seriously polluted to river.
Additional information
References: • Lin, C. C. Topography of Taiwan. Taiwan Provincial Documents Council. • Chang, J. L. 1994. Bird resources of the Kaoping River Proceedings of the Coastal Wetlands Ecology and Conservation Conference. WBFT. • Chen, Z. D. 1997. Lakes and Reservoirs in Taiwan. National Institute for Compilation and Translation. • Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Department of Hydrantics & Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University. A study of rainfall-runoff by Standford Watershed Model- Biological characteristics of alexandriumtamarense tki collected from Taiwan. • Ocean Research Institute, National Taiwan University. Local politics and public policy- case study of eliminating illegal fishponds from the upstream and downstream of the Hsuangyuan Bridge on the Kaoping River. • Public Executive Research Institute, National Chengchi University. Essentials of the construction plan of Meinung Reservoir precipitation in the watershed- Initial research on the analysis of Direct-flow Model System. • Department of Hydrantics & Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University. A study of rainfall-runoff by Standford Watershed Model- Research on indicators of wastewater from domestic sources and pig farms. Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University. • Wetlands Taiwan. 1999. Instructive Manual of the Coastal Wetlands of Southwestern Taiwan.