Endangered Species Conservation Actions

Wildlife is a fundamental component of ecosystems and forms the basis of human survival, working together with sunlight, air, water, and soil to sustain energy flows and material cycles that maintain the balance of the Earth’s environment and climate. Although Taiwan’s land area is only 36,000 square kilometers, its unique landscapes and rich ecosystems nurture an abundance of flora and fauna, making it a treasure trove of biodiversity. However, over the past century, rapid population growth and intensive economic development have caused dramatic changes. Species that were once widely distributed such as the Eurasian otter, leopard cat, russet sparrow, yellow-margined box turtle, and red bellied racer are now confined to limited habitats. Rare species like the broad-tailed swallowtail butterfly and Magellan birdwing have become even harder to find. The decline or restricted activity of these animal populations is primarily due to habitat loss, environmental pollution, overhunting for commercial purposes, and invasive alien species, all of which pose serious threats to their survival.

To safeguard biodiversity and prevent or mitigate the rapid loss of wildlife, Taiwan enacted the Act on Wildlife Conservation in 1989. The Act regulates human activities involving wildlife, including hunting, killing, trading, exhibiting, displaying, possession, import, export, breeding, and raising. To protect ecological environments, various conservation laws including the National Park Law, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, the Forestry Act, and the Act on Wildlife Conservation have been applied to designate protected natural areas covering 19.2% of Taiwan’s terrestrial territory. Most of these areas are located in the mid- to high- altitude forests of the Central Mountain Range from north to south. Together with adjacent state-owned forest areas, the protected land reaches 42.5% of Taiwan’s total land area, forming the Central Mountain Range Conservation Corridor. This corridor effectively conserves Taiwan’s valuable mountain forests and biodiversity, enabling many wildlife populations to benefit and gradually recover.

Nevertheless, many wildlife species live outside protected areas and state-owned forest lands. The lowland hills, plains, and coastal regions below 1,000 meters in elevation, dominated by farmland ecosystems, also harbor rich biodiversity. These areas serve as habitats for 55% of Taiwan’s protected wildlife species and 64% of the species listed in the Taiwan Plant Red List. However, since these areas overlap significantly with zones of human activity and are predominantly privately owned, it is difficult to designate them as protected areas for wildlife conservation. Changes in agricultural and industrial practices, such as farmland abandonment, fallowing, and excessive use of chemical inputs in conventional farming, have diminished the ecological functions of farmland. Many fields have been converted into urban or industrial land, while road construction and inappropriate riverbank and hydraulic structures have fragmented wildlife habitats and degraded ecosystems, accelerating biodiversity loss. In response, the Forestry Bureau initiated the National Ecological Conservation Green Network Development Plan in 2017. Expanding conservation efforts beyond protected areas and state-owned forests, the project began with the preservation of farmland habitats. Guided by the vision of harmonious coexistence between people and nature, it involves central and local government agencies as well as civil society organizations. Under the principle of sustainable development that balances society, production, and ecology, the project promotes eco-friendly farming practices and constructs wildlife passages that connect forests, rivers, villages, and seas into ecological corridors. Through this approach, strategies for biodiversity conservation are integrated into human economic activities, fostering mutual prosperity.

In May of the same year, the Ministry of Agriculture (formerly the Council of Agriculture before its reorganization in August 2023) developed objective and practical conservation plans for various endangered wildlife species, categorizing them by urgency and priority. They also established medium- and long-term recovery plans. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (formerly the Forestry Bureau), together with the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute (formerly the Endemic Species Research Institute), held multiple consultations and discussions to identify species requiring urgent action. Based on species listed as endangered under the Act on Wildlife Conservation, those classified as Nationally Critically Endangered (NCR) in the Taiwan Red List of Wildlife Animals, and other threatened species, 23 species were selected as priorities for conservation action plans. These include the Formosan flying fox, Eurasian otter, Formosan black bear, leopard cat, Formosan pangolin, mountain hawk-eagle, grass owl, russet sparrow, harpist frog, Formosan salamander, Taiwan lesser salamander, Nanhu salamander, Taichu salamander, Alishan salamander, Maki's Keelback, red-bellied racer (added in 2024), Chinese box turtle, yellow pond turtle, Golden-stripe gudgeon, Iijima’s gudgeon, great purple emperor, broad-tailed swallowtail, and Magellan birdwing (see Table 1).

With the support of the Executive Yuan, the medium- and long-term National Ecological Conservation Green Network Development Plan was officially launched in 2018. This project identifies sensitive areas and hotspots of endangered species distribution, promotes habitat connectivity and restoration, and includes endangered species conservation strategies as one of its core priorities. The latest phase focuses on the following key tasks:

1. Regularly assessing extinction risks and conservation priorities for key wildlife species.
2. Periodically reviewing conservation action plans for endangered wild plants and animals.
3. Implementing conservation plans for endangered wildlife.
4. Developing and promoting protection measures for ecologically high-risk areas.
5. Establishing an ex-situ conservation and rescue system for highly threatened endangered species.
6. Providing planning and technical support for ecological service payments in high-risk habitats and for endangered species.

Endangered species conservation actions are developed in accordance with these strategies and objectives. By analyzing the threats faced by endangered species and consulting with experts, scholars, and stakeholders, species-specific conservation action plans are formulated. A dedicated conservation platform for each species is established to enhance inter-agency coordination. These action plans clarify the roles and responsibilities of government agencies. Complementary efforts include invasive species management, wildlife trade regulation, community and Indigenous participation, education and outreach, as well as initiatives like the Green Conservation Label launched in 2021 and the ecological service payments program for endangered species and key habitats. Through such cross-agency collaboration, Taiwan continues to advance species conservation, aiming to prevent species loss and restore critical wildlife populations.

Transparency in governance and increased public participation in policy matters are key trends in Taiwan’s policy development. Local community support remains the greatest driving force behind conservation efforts. To help the public better understand the current status, population trends, and extinction risks of endangered species as well as the strategies to mitigate these threats and the outcomes of government conservation initiatives, this website provides detailed information on population status, threat factors, conservation strategies, action plans, and achievements for each endangered species. By doing so, it aims to strengthen public support and encourage nationwide engagement in collaborative conservation efforts.

Although current endangered species conservation actions prioritize 23 animal species, these species hold unique ecological and conservation value in Taiwan. Most are either indicator species of ecosystems or play vital ecological roles. Implementing conservation actions for these species not only benefits them directly but also expands conservation outcomes to protect other species sharing the same habitats. While immediate results cannot be expected in the short term, monitoring has already shown that populations of some endangered species are gradually increasing as threats diminish. Looking ahead, feasible actions tailored to individual cases will continue to be implemented. Ongoing population surveys and monitoring, along with integrated information, will be used to assess the effectiveness of conservation measures and guide adaptive management and adjustments. Conservation efforts must also emphasize communication and collaboration with stakeholders and organizations. Through transparent reporting of project results and education and outreach, it is hoped that more sectors, groups, and citizens will join in supporting biodiversity conservation, working together toward the goal of removing endangered species from the risk of extinction.