TW008
North Section of Xueshan Mountain Range, Taoyuan City


Site description (2001 baseline):

Site location and context
Extent of this site: located in both Taoyuan and Taipei Counties, and completely covers the Chatienshan Nature Reserve, Daguanshan Nature Reserve, and the Dongyanshan and Manyueyuan Forest Recreational Areas. This area is strongly affected by the northeast monsoon in winter. Furthermore, the altitude of more than 1,000 meters is another factor contributing to clouds and fog, and low temperature throughout the year. The forest cover still keeps quite intact. Important plant species include natural conifer forests, conifer & broadleaf mixed forests, broadleaf forests, Fagus hayatae forests, man-made forests, second-growth forests, and grasslands. Among these, the broadleaf forests consist of the most extensive forest. The followings are mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests and man-made forest. In this area, the Chatienshan Nature Reserve is one of the least disturbed natural forests in northern Taiwan. Plant and animals species are correspondingly abundant here. This area also forms the major part of the watersheds of both the Shihmen and Feitsui Reservoirs. Daguanshan, Dongyanshan and Manyueyuan are very popular tourist and recreational spots. All the lands within this site are public and managed by Taiwan Forestry Bureau.

Key biodiversity
IBA A2 criterion species: 13 endemic species are commonly seen here: Formosan Whistling Thrush, Formosan Blue Magpie, Formosan Yellow Tit, Formosan Yuhina, Steere’s Liocichia, Formosan Barwing, White-eared Sibia, Collared Bush Robin, Mikado Pheasant, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, White-throated Hill Partridge, Taiwan Firecrest, and Formosan Laughing Thrush. • At this site, 104 species in 35 families have been recorded. Most of the birds are seen in the broadleaf forests. Forty-one of the recorded bird species are protected including the Indian Black Eagle and Brown Wood Owl are threatened species.

Non-bird biodiversity: • Fagus hayatae is among the 11 rare endemic plant species. A large and pure stand of the species can be found in Lalashan at Taipei and Taoyuan County. This site is the southern-most distribution of this species in the northern hemisphere.



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
• Daguanshan, Dongyanshan and Manyueyuan are popular tourist and recreational areas, so there are corresponding pressures on the habitat, causing great disturbance to wildlife. • Extensive area is reclaimed for growing high-mountain, cold-loving vegetables.

Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Legislation: • Chatienshan Nature Reserve was established on 12 March 1992. The area is mainly managed by the Taiwan Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. Important conservation objectives are the Fagus hayatae forest, rare plants and animals, and other ecosystems. It covers an area of 7,759.17 ha. • The Daguanshan Nature Reserve contains 75 ha, and protects a large stand of Chamaecyparis formosensis. • Dongyanshan Forest Recreational Area is one of the national forest recreational areas governed by the Tourist Bureau, the Transportation Ministry. • The Manyueyuan Forest Recreational Area covered an area of 850.22 ha and is under the administration of the Tourist Bureau, the Transportation Ministry.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: North Section of Xueshan Mountain Range, Taoyuan City (Taiwan, China). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/north-section-of-xueshan-mountain-range-taoyuan-city-iba-taiwan-china on 22/11/2024.