National Wetland Policy: Taiwan

Abstract

Taiwan is an island located to the west of Pacific Ocean and the southeast edge of Mainland China. Taiwan has a total area is 36,192 km². However, as much of the land comprises hills and mountains, only less than 40 % of this land area is suitable for farming, industrial, urban, and rural development. Nevertheless, Taiwan is host to a diversity of types of wetland including high-mountain lake and other natural ponds, fishponds and irrigation systems, creeks, and rivers, in addition to coastal mudflats, marshes, lagoons, and mangroves. These different types of wetlands form a network of ecological corridors across Taiwan. Politically, a complexity arises in that sovereignty of the islands is contested, though it is generally recognized as being part of the Republic of China.