TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency met on Wednesday to strengthen habitat protection efforts for several endemic species in the Puli Basins of central Taiwan.
Hosted by the agency’s Nantou branch, the meeting gathered representatives from government agencies, academia, local communities, and industry stakeholders to promote cross-sector collaboration to safeguard the vital stream and wetland ecosystems within Nantou’s Puli and Yuchi townships.
The Puli Basins surrounding Sun Moon Lake consist of more than a dozen small to medium-sized mountain basins. The area supports a diverse wetland ecosystem and serves as a critical habitat for several endangered and Taiwan-endemic species, including the Taiwan white minnow, Yuchi music frog, and the Sympetrum nantouensis dragonfly, according to the Taiwan Cultural Memory Bank and CNA.
Each of these species was discussed during the meeting, all of which are characterized by their highly localized distributions and vulnerability to environmental disturbances. The discussion also addressed other protected species, such as the Pelophylax fukienensis frog, common scaled water snake, Hypsiscopus wettsteini snake, and yellow pond turtle.
A primary focus was the Yuchi music frog, the only known Taiwanese frog that builds mud nests for breeding. Found exclusively in wetlands near Lianhuachi and Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi Township, its wild population is estimated between 300 and 700.
Due to its extreme sensitivity to environmental changes, conservation efforts have included ex-situ breeding, population monitoring, and habitat assessment. Officials also identified potential wetland restoration sites near Sun Moon Lake to support population recovery.
The meeting also reviewed the status of Sympetrum nantouensis, a dragonfly species endemic to central Taiwan and first described in 2013. Limited to the Yuchi and Puli areas, it has been monitored since 2022.
Conservationists expressed concern that expanding agricultural activities and worsening droughts linked to climate change pose increasing threats to its survival. Participants underscored the urgent need for integrated, cross-sector conservation strategies.
The Taiwan white minnow, a native fish species confined to the lower tributaries of the Mei River, was another focus. Its populations have declined due to habitat degradation and water pollution.
In response, authorities have implemented refuge pond management, river ecosystem restoration, and promoted eco-friendly farming practices.
However, these wetlands, especially those within water bamboo cultivation areas, are shrinking due to land conversion, infill development, and seasonal water shortages. These habitats also support other sensitive species, including the Pelophylax fukienensis frog, yellow pond turtle, and the Hypsiscopus wettsteini snake.
Stakeholders discussed strategies to conserve and expand these agricultural wetlands, aiming to protect the Taiwan white minnow along with the broader ecological communities that depend on these environments.
The agency emphasized that safeguarding biodiversity in the Puli Basins requires cooperation among industry, government, academia, and local communities to maintain resilience and long-term sustainability of these vital wetland ecosystems.
