Yilan County Shuang-lian-Pi Major Wildlife Habitat

Name	Yilan County Shuang-lian-Pi Major Wildlife Habitat
Primary Protected  Features	Wetland, Pond, and Forest Ecosystem
Area (Hectares)	634.4344
Location	Compartments 43 and 47 of Yi-lan Working Circle for National Forest; and Lots No. 1~80-24, No. 114~135 and No. 137~140 in Shuang-lian-bei Subsection, Dahu Section and plus, the wildlife habitat occupies a part of Lot No. 134.
Central Management  Agency	Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan
Local Management  ​Agency	Yilan County Government
Date Established	March 21, 2005

Origin

Yilan Shuang-lian-Pi is a barrier lake surrounded by mountains, where there is a rare wild animal and plant habitat. According to reports, Shuang-lian-Pi comprises 80 families and 202 species of plants and of them, there are such rare plants as Salix kusanoi, Philydrum lanuginosum, Trapa bispinosa, Utricularia exoleta, Limnophila, Brasenia schreberi, Eleocharis ochrostachys, Rhynchospora malasica, and so on. The aquatic plants here take one-third species of Taiwan. It is the top wetland of the most abundant aquatic plants. Determined by ratio of species per area, Shuang-lian-pi is one of the rarest wetlands in the world. If can be regarded as “National Wetland,” there are 56 species of aquatic insects over the wildlife habitat. And it is the habitat for some protected animals according to Wildlife Conservation Act such as Emerald green tree frogs, Taipei green tree frogs, and yellow turtles. Dr. Chen Tien-His at National Museum of Marine Science & Technology has investigated that yellow turtles have given a steady amount of breeding in Shuang-lian-pi, which is the yellow turtles’ secondly significant breeding place. It is a rare place in Taiwan: the water region is only of 17 ha but it raises an ecosystem of biodiversity. When the other lakes at the low latitude have been destroyed swiftly, Shuang-lian-pi has become a valuable habitat.

Heavy fogs often cover the wetland. Weeds, reflections in the water, and sounds of nature paint Shuang-lian-pi with hues of isolated beauty. This gorgeous environment naturally breeds an ecosystem of biodiversity. And it attracts plenty of filmmakers to work in such exquisite scenery, for instance, the movie, “Scarecrow.” There is one more special thing in Shuang-lian-pi. There is one more special thing in Shuanglianpi. Above the lake is piled up by submerged aquatic plants, forming a grass carpet having a size of a football field. The green carpet moves around in different seasons. Especially in the typhoon season, it moves so considerably that it is called a wonderful view in the nature. The twisted roots and decayed soil is 3 Tai-chis thick (1 tai-chi equal to 0.30303 meter.) Except for another green carpet in Sun Moon Lake, the other one in Shuanglianpi is a scenic wonder in Taiwan.

To protect the valuable wetland ecosystem in Shuang-lian-pi, the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan announced Shuanglianpi as a major wildlife habitat according to Wildlife Conservation Act, on October 23, 2003.

Location

Located in the northeastern part of Taiwan, Shuang-lian-pi is a natural barrier lake surrounded by mountains. In the valleys of Husi Village in Yuanshan Township, Yilan County, Shuanglianpi, at the latitude of 470 meters, is 3 kilometers from the Fushan Botanical Garden. Occupying an area of 18 hectares, Shuanglianpi consists of large and small lakes, called the upper and lower wetlands by the local people. The name “Shuanglianpi” is derived from the fact that these two wetlands are interconnected, “shuang” means both, “lian” means connected and “pi” means wetland). But now the lower wetland has been deposited as a mire land, the upper wetland still remains the primaery water resource.

An Introduction

Shuang-lian-pi literally means two connected lakes. The big, senior lake, 500 meters in length and 300 meters in width, grows grass by its skirts and thrives some rows of bamboo intersected by the lake. The small, junior lake, 200 meters in length and 100 meters in width, is gradually deposited by mountain soils as a mire land with grass. The area in total is 18 ha. Grass is densely clothed around the lake. When autumn and winter meet, white awns thrive. And the beauty is beyond description. Between the two wetlands, there are two floated islets covered by aquatic plants. Whenever the seasons change their positions, both of the islets will float away. It is said that it becomes the unique scenery in Shuanglianpi.

The lake water of Shuanglianpi comes from the underground springs and mountainous streams. Because of its purity, the fish breed is abundant. It makes this place the best habitat for the migratory birds in winter. By the wetland bank are inhabited by several farming families. At the entry to Shuang-lian-pi, a large scale of Japanese cedars planatation is put in order which opens up trails in the woods. Tourists can trace along the wood trails by the lake and can take forest baths while enjoying the lake scenery.

Biological Resources

This area is one of the rare wetlands at the low latitude. According to the reports in the academic circle, there are 80 families and 202 species of plants. Rare species are Salix kusanoi, Philydrum lanuginosum, Trapa bispinosa, Utricularia exoleta, Limnophila, Brasenia schreberi, Eleocharis ochrostachys, Rhynchospora malasica, and so on. The aquatic plants here take the one-third species of Taiwan. It is the top wetland of the most abundant aquatic plants.

Bird species are recorded as below: plenty of Anas creccas and Oriental cuckoos. And various mountain birds at the low latitudes are frequently seen like Formosan blue magpies, Himalayan tree pies, streak-breasted scimitar babblers, black bulbuls, and Muller’s barbets. Besides, there are also species like little grebes, Bronzed drongos, Grey herons, Black drongos, Cattle egrets, Himalayan tree pies, Little egrets, Taiwan blue magpies, Cinnamon bitterns, Gould’s fulvettas, Green-winged teals, Gray-cheeked fulvettas, Bersa sparrow hawks, Taiwan sibias, crested goshawks, Rusty-cheeked scimitar babblers, Crested serpent eagles, Streak-breasted scimitars, Bamboo portridges, Red-headed tree babblers, White-breasted water hens, Taiwan yuhinas, moorhens, black bulbuls, spotted-necked doves, Chinese bulbuls, red collared-doves, Formosan whistling thrushes, Lesser coucals, Japanese bush-warblers, little cuckoos, Yellow-bellied prinias, Himalayan cuckoos, Tawny-flanked prinias, house swifts, Black-naped blue flycatchers, fork-tailed swifts, black-headed shrikes, needle-tailed swifts, common mynas, common kingfishers, Japanese white-eyes, Muller’s barbets, Spotted munias, barn swallows, White-rumped munias, Pacific swallows, and sparrows.

Other animals comprise the one family and one species of the mammal, 2 families and 5 species of the reptiles, and 6 families and 9 species of the fish. Abundant animal resources can be found in this area.

Current Conservation Status

Only three exotic species have been found in Shuang-lian-pi such as Mosquito fish, the golden carp, and Asian yellow pond turtle. There are 6 families and 9 species of fish in this wetland, comprising Oryzia latipes, which have vanished nearly for 70 years in Taiwan. But now under the attack by the alien mosquito-fished, Oryzia latipes have been endangered. According to the oral reports by the locals, there were otters used to be found. But now otters have been listed as Endangered Species.