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National parks of Taiwan

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Yangmingshan National Park

National parks of Taiwan are protected spaces for the nature, wildlife, and history under their current jurisdiction. Currently there are nine national parks in Taiwan, all under the administration of the Ministry of the Interior. These national parks cover 7,489.49 square kilometres (2,891.71 sq mi).[1] The 3,103.76-square-kilometre (1,198.37 sq mi) total land area constitutes around 8.6% of the entire land area of the country.

The first national parks were designated for establishment in 1937, when Taiwan was under Japanese rule, though never formally managed as such.[2] After World War II, calls for protecting the natural environment were met with opposition due to the prioritization of economic development. [3] The National Park Law was passed in 1972 and the first national park was established in 1984.[4]

National parks should not be confused with national scenic areas. The national scenic areas are administered by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.[5] There are also different philosophies that govern the development of the two types of areas. For a national park, the emphasis is on the preservation of natural and cultural resources, with development for human utilization being a secondary priority.[5]

History

The first national parks (國立公園, Kokuritsu Kōen) in Taiwan were planned in December 27, 1937 by Governor-General Seizō Kobayashi (小林躋造). This was when Taiwan was under Japanese rule, thus the three national parks were to be national parks of the Empire of Japan.

Name Japanese Taiwanese Today's equivalent
Daiton National Park 大屯國立公園 Toā-tūn Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂g Yangmingshan National Park
Nītaka-Arisan National Park 新高阿里山國立公園 Sin-ko A-lí-san Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂g Yushan National Park and Alishan National Scenic Area
Tsugitaka-Taroko National Park 次高タロコ國立公園 Chhù-ko Thài-ló͘-koh Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂g Taroko National Park and Shei-Pa National Park

The legal basis for these national parks was no longer in force when Japan withdrew from Taiwan in 1945 after World War II. However, these planned national parks formed the basis for subsequent national park establishments. [2]

Current national parks of Taiwan

Currently there are nine national parks in Taiwan. There is also one national nature park, which is designed for areas with fewer resources compared to a full national park.

Name Chinese Mandarin Taiwanese Hakka Date established Area Description Image
Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園 Kěndīng Guójiā Gōngyuán Khún-teng Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Khén-tên Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn January 1, 1984 332.90 km2 (82,261.4 acres), 180.84 km2 of land, and 152.06 km2 water Located on the southern tip of Taiwan, it is also the oldest national park on Taiwan (Pingtung County). Kenting is famous for its tropical coral reefs and migratory birds.
Yushan National Park 玉山國家公園 Yùshān Guójiā Gōngyuán Gio̍k-san Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Ngiu̍k-sân Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn April 6, 1985 1,031.21 km2 (254,817.5 acres) The largest national park in Taiwan, located on the central part of the island. It is named after Mount Jade (Yushan literally means "Jade Mountain") which is the highest peak in East Asia at 3,952 metres.
Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山國家公園 Yángmíngshān Guójiā Gōngyuán Iûⁿ-bêng-soaⁿ Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Yòng-mìn-sân Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn September 16, 1985 113.38 km2 (28,016.8 acres) The northernmost national park on the island of Taiwan; it has a volcanic landform. Yangminshan is famous for its hotsprings and geothermal phenomenon. Each spring, Yangminshan also has a dazzling flower season. It is located partially in Taipei City and partially in New Taipei City.
Taroko National Park 太魯閣國家公園 Tàilǔgé Guójiā Gōngyuán Thài-ló͘-koh Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Thai-lû-kok Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn November 28, 1986 920 km2 (227,337.0 acres) A magnificent marble gorge cut by Liwu River, creating one of the most astounding landscapes in the world. It is also the home of the indigenous Truku people. Taroko is located in eastern Taiwan.
Shei-Pa National Park 雪霸國家公園 Xuěbà Guójiā Gōngyuán Soat-pà Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Siet-pa Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn July 1, 1992 768.5 km2 (189,900.5 acres) Located in the northern central part of Taiwan island, in Hsinchu County and Miaoli County. It encompasses Xueshan (Snow Mountain), the second tallest mountain in Taiwan and East Asia, and Dabajian Mountain.
Kinmen National Park 金門國家公園 Jīnmén Guójiā Gōngyuán Kim-mn̂g Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Kîm-mùn Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn October 18, 1995 35.29 km2 (8,720.3 acres) Located on an island just off the coast of Mainland China, it includes famous historical battlefields in Kinmen. It is also known for its wetland ecosystem and traditional Fujian buildings that date back to the Ming Dynasty.
Dongsha Atoll National Park 東沙環礁國家公園 Dōngshā Huánjiāo Guójiā Gōngyuán Tang-soa Khoân-ta Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Tûng-sâ Fàn-chiâu Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn October 4, 2007 3,536.68 km2 (873,932.7 acres), including 1.79 km2 of land Taiwan's first marine national park. The atoll and the adjacent waters provide for a rich biodiversity of marine life including fish, jellyfish, squid, sicklefin lemon sharks, and rays to sea turtles, Dugongs, and cetaceans (dolphins and whales). Because of a strict protection policy, it is currently not open to public tourism.
Taijiang National Park 臺江國家公園 Táijiāng Guójiā Gōngyuán Tâi-kang Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g Thòi-kông Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn December 28, 2009 393.1 km2 (97,137.1 acres), 49.05 km2 of land, and 344.05 km2 water Located in southwest Taiwan on the coast of Tainan City. The park's tidal landscape is one of its most distinctive features. Around 200 years ago, a large part of the park was part of the Taijiang Inland Sea. There is a rich variety of marine life, including 205 species of shellfish, 240 species of fish and 49 crab species that thrive on the marshes of southern Taiwan.
South Penghu Marine National Park 澎湖南方四島
國家公園		 Pénghú Nánfāng Sìdǎo Guójiā Gōngyuán Phêⁿ-ô͘ Lâm-hong Sù-tó
Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g		 Phàng-fù Nàm-fông Si-tó
Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn 		October 18, 2014 358.44 km2 (88,572.5 acres), including 3.70 km2 of land Located in the south of the Penghu Islands. The seas around the islets feature large clusters of Acropora coral and a diversity of fish and shells living among the reefs. The islets are also known for magnificent basalt terrains and unique low-roofed houses built by early inhabitants with coral stone and basalt.[6]

National Nature Park

Name Chinese Mandarin Taiwanese Hakka Date established Area Image
Shoushan National Nature Park 壽山國家自然公園 Shòushān Guójiā Zìrán Gōngyuán Siū-san Kok-ka Chū-jiân Kong-hn̂g Su-sân Koet-kâ Chhṳ-yèn Kûng-yèn December 6, 2011 11.23 km2 (2,775.0 acres)

Proposed national parks

Five other national parks were proposed but the plans of formation were halted due to opposition:

Proposed national nature park

Another national nature park was proposed but the plans of formation were halted due to opposition:

References

  1. ^ 各國家公園基本資料表 (PDF) (in Chinese). Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b 日治時期的國家公園規劃 (in Chinese). Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ^ 二戰後時期發展史 (in Chinese). Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  4. ^ Reference on Act Title from Kinmen Park website
  5. ^ a b "Taiwan's National Scenic Areas: Balancing Preservation and Recreation". Academia Sinica. 1995-06-01.
  6. ^ "Beauty of south Penghu islets on display at new national park". Central News Agency. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
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