Nan-ao Broad-leaved Forest Nature Reserve

Information

Date of Proclamation	March 12, 1992
Size of Area (ha)	200
Primary Object for Protection	Sub-tropical broad-leaf woods, primitive lake & rare animals/vegetations
Scope of Administration	Sub-compartment 8 of compartment 87 in Heping working circle
Authority in-charge-of	Luodong Forest District Office

Origin

This fairly small region consists of broad-leaf woods and primitive [also called“mysterious”] lakes. Forest conditions are in perfectly preserved and the lake is constantly fogged over and is a pre-historic alpine. Waters are shallow and rainfall is necessary to replenish supply. The Japanese silvergrass encircles the lake, forming roughs, which is typical of late stage of hydrosere toward mesosere. The area preserves some rare plants, like Sparganium fallax Graedner and Potamogeton maackianus Benn. The ecological phenomenon where there are lake succession, marsh plants and forest growth and decline are highly valuable for academic research.

The Taiwan Forestry Bureau earlier set-up a forest reserve at Nanao. The Council of Agriculture officiated the“Nanao Broad-Leaved Forest Nature Reserve”in 1992 to protect local ecosystems & preserve academic research values.

Location

The reserve is located along the Suao-Hualien Highway in Nanao Township. After passing Nanao on the highway, one heads for Jinyang Village then takes the road from Nanao to Nanlin to find the reserve. It belongs to the sub-compartment 8 of compartment 87 in Heping working circle under the jurisdiction of the Donglin Management Office. The reserve is in a remote location, access is only possible by motorized vehicles. Its total area is 200 ha and elevation is 700-1,500 m above sea level. The highest peak is at 1,236 m at Yusiang Mountain peak. A mysterious lake is formed from numerous streams in a swampy canyon of 4.8 ha. Lake water runs into Heping Creek.

An Introduction

On a sunny day, the Pacific Ocean is visible from the zone, which is categorized as a typical marine climate. Often visited by northeastern monsoons the area is garnered with plentiful of rainfall. Yearly temperature average [1992] 11.5°C to 20.5°C; coolest monthly average 7.5 to 9.6°C, warmest monthly averages 20.3°C to 22.2°C. Yearly rainfall averages 2,700mm. Most rainfall is produced during typhoon season in August & September. Soil mostly consists of Palaeozoic Epoch & Mesozoic Epoch schist; due to constant flow of water, saline saturation remains around 10%. Rich ironic aluminum metals & amino acids bring lots of bio-organic food sources.

Mysterious lake’s water exists into Aohua Creek and bountiful growth of duckweeds proves mysterious lake is a eutrophic one.

Biological Resources

The forest is of broad-leaf & pine trees and there is a total of over 80 various species of plant life found here including oak, tea plum, algae, willow, water celery & awn.

Twelve mammals, 50 bird species, 5 reptile species, 7 amphibian species, 26 butterfly species & 36 aquatic insect species have been identified in the zone. Most choose to live in broad-leaf portion, like moles, badgers, macaques, wild boars, partridges, babblers, warblers, ducks & herons.

Conservation Results Till Now

Completely pristine, relevant ecosystems are extremely valuable to academic research studies. Many have concluded, but others are ongoing. For future analysis, the task of collecting respective data its 2nd year, executed by the lakeside hydrology observatory.

Even more perceptive conservation measures are expected to become available after being officiated. Although access is difficult, threat exists due to an influx of tourists, illegal hunting by nearby aboriginal tribesmen & interference from nearby forest foster programs.

Guard stations at entryways enforce tight control and regular patrols have been conducted to remove bird traps & to ban ecological malfeasance. Currently, aggressive promotions for field trips are ongoing.

Gates are set-up at entrances and tight control of motorized vehicles is enforced. Outpost placed at crucial points within zones, with irregular & random weekly patrol rounds ongoing. Still, destructive behavior in compounds has been detected. We highly recommend preventive measures.