Pinglin Taiwan Keteleeria Nature Reserve

Information

Date of Proclamation	June 27, 1986
Size of Area (ha)	34.6
Primary Object for Protection	Keteleeria davidiana(Franchet) Bessner var. formosana Hayata
Scope of Administration	No. 28, No. 29, No. 40, and No. 41 compartment of Wunshan Business area
Authority in-charge-of	Luodong Forest District Office

Origin

Keteleeria davidiana (Franchet) Bessner var. formosana Hayata is of belo Pinaceae plant, being pioneer species, and It is a monoecious plant. It blooms in March, and matures in October, with its cone upright. The tree can be found on Fangliaoshan (900m) in Taitung, and Dajhu Stream near Dawushan (500m), and this area (referring to the natural reserve near Pinglin), also it is found at the northern and southern parts of Taiwan, distributed without continuity. Furthermore, trees in this area are weak and aging, with diameter mostly between 25~120cm. Though their cone bearing condition is reasonable, most seeds are empty; therefore it has a low germination rate, and is in danger of extinction. To protect this unique and legally rare plant of Taiwan as well as relics from the ice age, the Council of Agriculture has proclaimed compartment No. 28 (sub-compartment 6.76), No. 29 (sub-compartment 12), No. 40, and No. 41 as Pinglin Keteleeria Nature Reserve.

Location

The nature reserve is within Pingling Township in Taipei County, and is within the jurisdiction of the compartment No. 28 (sub-compartment 6.76), No. 29 (sub-compartment 12 ), No. 40, and No. 41 of Luodong Forest District Office. The entire reserve encompasses an area of 34.6 hectares, and the altitude is between 350~650m. Jingualiao stream, a tributary of the Beishih Stream, can be found in the nature reserve, and the reserve can be reached as one travels along Beiyi Highway heading for Ilan to 39K. . At 41K of the highway, one arrives at the reserve going along the stream after passing through the tea garden.

An Introduction

The nature reserve is part of Datongshan mountain system, with its soil composed mainly of sandstone and shale from the Oligocene to the Miocene period, and the soil type is a less than fertile yellow forest soil. Its average annual temperature is 18.6 ℃, with annual rainfall about 3,500mm, and there is no evident dry seasons, and it is of constant humidity climate type.

Biological Resources

The area used to be land rented for plantation, with little natural broadleaved forests. Recorded natural forest communities can be divided into Fir plantations, Pinus luchuensis plantations, natural broadleaved forests, and fruit trees, while Keteleeria davidiana(Franchet) Bessner var. formosana Hayata can be found scattered among Pinus luchuensis plantation, around 200 trees. The natural forest is comparatively sophisticated, with Castanopsis carlesii var.sessilis being the most dominant, other plants include Schefflera octophylla (Lour.) Harms, Machilus zuihoensis Hayata, Diospyros morrisiana Hance, Elaeocarpus sylvestris, Illicium arborescens Hay, Alsophila spinulosa (Hook.) Tryon, etc. There are a total of 91 classes and 234 types of plants, with Rubiaceae being the most common.

Larger mammals can no longer be found in this area , only smaller rodents are still active in the area. There are a variety of birds found bordering the plantations, streams, and broadleaved forest. Birds often seen are Cinclus pallasii pallasii, Myiophoneus insularis, Rhyacornis fuliginosus affinis, Alcedo atthis, Egretta garzetta, Alcippe morrisonia, Yuhina zantholeuca, Pomatorhinus erythrogenys, Pomatorhinus ruficollis, Stachyris ruficeps, Urocissa caerulea, Bambusicola thoracica, Spilornis cheela hoya, etc.

Conservation Results Till Now

Through Beiyi Highway, one can reach the nature reserve only by walking trails, and it takes about an hour. Because it is remote, few visitors are seen in the area, making it easier to manage and maintain, and clear and visible signs and fences are set up for segregation. However, local residents open tree farms and fruit farms around the area, causing excessive logging In addition, since many more academic units are conducting frequent research on Keteleeria, increasing seed, tassel, and branch collection, and it is worthy of discussion if these activities. For the time being, there are only 200 trees left in the area and most are aging, and are pioneer species. Since many plants are extending themselves into the area, reducing sun-rays as well as causing poor growth, the growth of the entire Keteleeria species in extreme backward development, and if special care is not taken, there is a danger it might go extinct from the area.

The area used land rented for plantation; therefore, artificial forests make up 94% of the area. To maintain the completeness of the area, it is necessary that the rented land should be reclaimed. Keteleeria has been designated “natural souvenir” during the period of since the Japanese occupation for protection. In 1986, the area was announced as a nature reserve. In the following year, Keteleeria was proclaimed as a rare plant, protected by law. However, with the current state of growth without proper restoration, the species is mostly to turn extinct. In the past, the bureau has used cutting and grafting at the compartment No. 40 and No. 41 of Wenshan Working Circle , and has gained great success. But asexual reproduction plantation for forest may be disadvantageous genes. Therefore, how sexual reproductive can be employ to replenish the species and continued monitoring of Keteleeria has become an urgent issue for the successful nurturing of the forest.