Lanyang River Estuary (14314)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Lanyang River Estuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.7000, Longitude: 121.8000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 7
Area of KBA (km2): 26.2575
Protected area coverage (%): 8.05
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Extent of this site: to the south is the levee on the south bank of the Lanyang River to the Coastal Highway (Provincial Highway 2), from the Jiafuyuan Bridge to the seaside at Chingshui; on the east the site extends 500 m off the shoreline; to the north is Gongguan, the Chuangwei Bridge, and the Hsingang Bridge; and to the west is Provincial Highway 9. Located between Ilan City and Luodong Township, the area around the Lanyang River Estuary consists mostly of riparian wetlands and includes the rivermouth and agricultural fields on the north riverbank between Hsinnan to Meifu forming an important habitat for migratory and wintering birds. The Lanyang River Estuary is formed by the convergence of the Lanyang, the Ilan and the Dongshan Rivers. It is the most important estuarine wetland in Ilan County, providing an excellent environment for migratory birds on their way north and south. Therefore, it is listed as one of the twelve largest wetlands in Taiwan according to the IUCN. The 206-ha Lanyang River Estuary Waterbird Reserve is included in this IBA Site.
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: Chinese Egret, Black-faced Spoonbill, Saunder’s Gull • Chinese Egrets regularly visit here in spring and fall; with a maximum of 66 birds recorded in 1988. • Black-faced Spoonbills winter here, with a maximum of 10 birds in 1994. • Saunders’s Gulls also winter here; about 50 birds have been recorded, but the number has declined drastically. • The bird resources here are abundant with 236 species of birds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (42%) | not utilised (25%) | urban/industrial/transport (4%) | water management (26%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 33 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • Cultivation of land along the river is a source of water pollution by pesticides and fertilizers. • Exotic plants have been introduced in this area. • There are threats associated with tourist activities. • There is a plan to set up a 4.58-ha heliport 400 m from this IBA site by DeAnAirline, with an estimated 20 flights per day. This plan is currently at the review and investigation stage of the Environmental Impact Assessment. • There is disturbance from fishermen and from catching eels in winter.
Additional information
References: • Wu, Y. W. 1987. Annual bird investigations at Lanyang River estuary. Taiwan Wild Birds 1988 (Wild Bird Society of Taipei Annual Magazine): 54-69. • Chen, S. L. 1989. Birds at the Lanyang River estuary. Wild Birds 1990 (WBFT Annual Magazine): 41-54. • Wild Bird Society of Taiwan. 1991. Investigations and research on the waterbird resources of Ilan County. Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. Ecological Research Report 1991. • Ilan County Government. 1991. Bird resources of the Lanyang River Protected Areas. • Ilan County Government. 1996. Conservation Plan fur the Lanyang Rivermouth Waterbird Refuge. • Yu, D. W. 1998. Research on the regulations and economic incentives of land acqusition on coastal wetlands- case study of Ilan coastal wetlands. Proceedings of the Fourth Coastal Wetlands Ecology and Conservation Conference. WBFT. • Department of Zoology, National Taiwan University. 1999. Wildlife Refuges in Taiwan. Council of Lobbying and Legislation Agriculture, Executive Yuan.