Taroko National Park (14312)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Taroko National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.2000, Longitude: 121.4500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 3740
Area of KBA (km2): 979.52467
Protected area coverage (%): 99.53
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extent of this site : to the north is Duojiatun Mt., Nanhuda Mt., and Central Peak on a ridge line; to the east is the ridgeline between Chingshui Mt., Provincial Highway 9, Taroko, Hsincheng Mt., Ohchu Mt., and Jialiwan Mt; to the south is the ridgeline of the main peak Chilai Mt., Tarokoda Mt.. Liwu Mt., and Patuolu Mt.; to the west is the ridgeline connecting Kunyang, Wuling, Hehuan Mt., Pingyan Mt., and Duojiatun Mt. The area is jointly owned by the Construction and Planning Administration of the Ministry of Interior, Forest Development Division of the Veterans Affairs Commission, Taiwan Forestry Bureau, the Provincial Highway Bureau, the Bureau of Mines, and the county governments which have jurisdiction over the aboriginal preserves. Mountains over 2,000 m in elevation cover half the park area, and more than 1/6 of the area consists of peaks over 3,000 m, including 27 of Taiwan’s 100 highest peaks. The Central Cross-island Highway which was completed in 1960 is the most important route for tourism, along which lies the marble gorge from Taroko to Tienhsiang. The area has abundant cultural resources, including the ancient sites of the Atayal Aborigines and prehistoric sites scattered on terraces along the Liwu River and its tributaries.
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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: A2 criterion species: Nine endemic species are commonly seen here: including White-throated Hill Partridge, Formosan Blue Magpie, Formosan Yuhina, White-eared Sibia, Formosan Whistling Thrush, Formosan Bulbul, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Mikado Pheasant, and Steere’s Liocichla. • At this site, 147 species have been recorded. Non-bird biodiversity: • Thirty-four species of mammals have been recorded, including 6 endemic species; 13 species of amphibians, including 3 endemic species; and 28 species of reptiles, including 3 endemic species. More than half of the species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles in Taiwan are found in this area. There are 17 species of fish inhabiting the rivers and streams, including 2 endemics; 912 species of insects, including 28 endemics; 18 species of the crustaceans, including terrestrial snails, 13 species of freshwater shrimp, and 6 species of crabs among which Platyeriocheir formosa can only be found in eastern Taiwan. • A newly discovered Mustela formosana, was reported from this area by Professor Lianggong Lin of Tunghai University. • There are approximately 1,100 species of vascular plants, among which 57 species are rare in Taiwan.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (99%) | tourism/recreation (1%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • Intensive forestry activities and the cultivation of mountain slopes to plant vegetables and fruit have resulted in excessive development. • There is a problem with exotic animals and plants. • There are natural disasters, like typhoons and earthquakes. • Tourism results in heavy traffic on holidays; 1.2 million tourists per year visit the Special Scenic Area from Taroko to Tienhsiang. • There are mining activities. Although the area is abundant in minerals, only 20 ha of land has been designated as a mineral area; this has caused pressure from enormous applicants for mining at this area.
Additional information
References: • Tseng, M. L. 1988. Bird Resources of Taroko National Park. Association of National Parks. • Lu, G. Y. 1989. Investigations of animal ecological resources in Taroko National Park. Association of National Parks. • Wang, Y. and Y. S. Sun. 1989. Research on bird ecology in the Taosai River, Lotus Pond and Shenmi Valley of Taroko National Park. Taroko National Park Administration. • Severinghaus, Lucia. 1990. Investigations on the distributions of Formosan Bulbul and Chinese Bulbul in Taroko National Park. Association of National Parks. • Severinghaus, Lucia. 1990. Research on the ecology and behavior of Formosan Bulbul and Chinese Bulbul in Taroko National Park. Association of National Parks. • Wang, Y. and C. J. Chen. 1992. Investigation on the bird resources of mid and high elevations in Taroko National Park. Association of National Parks. • Liao, Y. L. 1999. Biodiversity and landscape conservation in Taroko National Park. Association of National Parks. • Taroko National Park Website: http://www.cpami.gov. tw/taroko/taroko.htm