Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Extent of this site: on the north is the center line of the Tanshui River; on the south is a public road north to Dakanjiao levee. This IBA faces Tatun Mt. on the north and Guanyin Mt. on the south. On the east is a wastewater treatment area, which connects with the shore of the Tanshui River.
Watzuwei is situated on the south bank of the Tanshui estuary; the twisting of the land blocks the tides, so for years the river has incessantly carried valuable sediments which have collected to form sand flats. Furthermore, under the influence of oceanic tidal fluctuations, a unique landform of twisting advancing wetland lagoons has been created. Additionally, these sand flats at the intersection of Watzuwci and the sea and river have moved with the flow direction of the Tanshui R., extending seaward more than 100 m. This natural environment is suitable for the growth of mangroves, and this is the northernmost extent of mangrove distribution in Taiwan.
IBA Al criterion species: Chinese Egret.
• Each April to September, 1-3 Chinese Egrets are recorded as they pass through on migration. In the past 10 years, they have been recorded in most years, but the numbers are not stable, with a maximum of 18 birds in 1985. Estimates are that each year more than 20 Chinese Egrets use this site.
• There are abundant avian resources here with more than 160 species recorded. This is an important stopover site on the migration routes.
• Rare species recorded include Oriental White Stork, Black Kite, Lesser Frigate Bird.
Non-bird biodiversity: • The mangrove, Kandelia Kandelia candel, is found here, forming the northernmost mangrove stand in the northern hemisphere.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
• The sand flats exposed by the tidal cycles collect trash washed from upstream on the Tanshui R.
• Fishermen and tourists throw their trash anywhere convenient, greatly dirtying the sand flats.
• Before 1990, the landward side of the IBA was agricultural fields, and was an important stopover site for migrating waterfowls. Later the land changed to industrial uses, affecting the numbers of waterfowls using the site.
• The sandy areas of the Tanshui River mangrove forest are becoming more terrestrial.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Lobbying activities:
• In 1994 the EPA commissioned the 1994 Planning examples of environmentally sensitive areas at the coast of Taiwan, which was put together by 15 organizations (simply called the Wetlands Conservation Workgroup), including the WBFT, Wetlands Conservation Alliance, the Kunshan Technical School’s Environmental Engineering and Science Department, and Wild Bird Society of Taiwan. This document recommended that this site be included in Taipei Co.’s Tanshui, Chuwei, Bali, and Watzuwei Nature Reserve.
Legislation:
• In 1983, the Taipei County Government announced the Watzuwei Nature Reserve.
• In 1994, the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, based on the Cultural Heritage Conservation Law, announced the Watzuwei Nature Reserve with an area of 30 ha, to protect the pure stand of the Kandelia Kandelia candel mangrove and associated important wildlife. It is currently managed by the Taipei County Government.
PA
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Watzuwei Nature Reserve (Taiwan, China). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/watzuwei-nature-reserve-iba-taiwan-china on 23/12/2024.
