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Site description (2001 baseline):

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.

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.

• 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.

Legislation: • From 1935 to 1972 during the Japanese occupation, the Taiwan Governor General Office designated the area as the Second High Taroko National Park because of the resources and scenic landscapes within this area. • In 1984, the Construction and Planning Administration of the Ministry of Interior announced that the marble gorge along the Liwu River, the Chingshui cliffs.Chingshui Mt., Nanhuda Mt., the Hehuan Mts., and the Chilai Mts. were to be included within Taroko National Park. • In 1979, the Executive Yuan ratified the Integrated Development Plan for Taiwan. According to this plan, the area including Taroko, the Central Cross-island Highway (ending at Dayuling), Hehuan Mt., and the Suhua Highway was designated as a national park. In 1982, the Executive Yuan issued the Development Plan for Tourism Resources and indicated that the Construction and Planning Administration to investigate Taroko National Park and make a development plan for it. In 1984, the marble gorges along the Liwu River, the Chingshui cliffs, Chingshui Mt., Nanhuda Mt., Hehuan Mts., and the Chilai Mts. were included in the national park. • After many discussions and coordination, the fourth national park was established on 28 November 1986, with the agreement that neither the Hydroelectric Generation Plan in Liwu River nor the establishment of the Chongde Industrial Zone would be allowed within the area of Taroko National Park. • The area from Taroko to Tienhsiang and Chingshui cliffs were both designated as Special Scenic Areas.

PA

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Taroko National Park (Taiwan, China). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/taroko-national-park-iba-taiwan-china on 23/12/2024.