From the end of September to next April, black-faced spoonbills fly from the north to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam for overwintering. The wetland at the north bank at the estuary of Tsengwen River at Qigu, Tainan, is their main overwintering site. The black-faced spoonbill is the rarest species out of the six spoonbills in the world. The development of the Qigu Industrial Complex and Binnan Industrial Complex might affect the habitat of black-faced spoonbills. In 2002, the Council of Agriculture announced that an area of 634 hectares would be designated as an important habitat for black-faced spoonbills at the estuary of Tsengwen River in Tainan. In the habitat, 300 hectares would be designated as the reserve for black-faced spoonbills at the north bank at the estuary of Tsengwen River in Tainan to conserve ecological resources that black-faced spoonbills need. In 2009, the Qigu Black-Faced Spoonbill Reserve has been listed as an ecological reserve in Taijiang National Park, the eighth national park in Taiwan. Since then, Taijiang National Park Headquarters has been responsible for the ecological conservation, education, and protection of valuable local ecological resources, and allows conservation experts and scholars at home and abroad to participate in research of black-faced spoonbills, an international migratory species. Therefore, numerous domestic and foreign birdwatchers have been drawn to the park to watch this endangered species.
Since the founding of Taijiang National Park, though protected areas are overlapping, Taijiang National Park Headquarters collaborated with the Tainan City Government to manage the reserve jointly based on its regulations according to the “2020 action plan of reserve for black-faced spoonbills at the north bank of Tsengwen River in Tainan (revised).” Taijiang National Park Headquarters conducted numerous management tasks based on the National Park Law and Wetland Conservation Act. The Tainan City Government performed relevant management tasks based on the Wildlife Conservation Act, including patrolling in reserves and rescues of wild birds. They set an example for joint management by two agencies. Their common goal is to 1. Protect the resource, habitat and foraging environment for wild animals at the estuary of Tsengwen River. 2. Provide a place for research and education. 3. Based on conversation rules for resource sustainability, integrate resources such as local residents, schools and research centers to promote ecotourism and recreation plan. 4. Integrate this reserve with overall community development to elaborate the reserve’s service value of its ecosystem.
The black-faced spoonbill reserve at the estuary of Tsengwen River has abundant wetland resources and fish, shrimps, and shellfish. When this reserve was founded, the conservation action plan specified that fishermen registered locally (Qigu) or people conducting production operations are allowed to perform existing fishing practices when the black-faced spoonbills leave or return from the north. The reason is to prevent human activity from interfering with the overwintering of black-faced spoonbills. Since the Taijiang National Park has been founded, Taijiang National Park Headquarters has been following the rules of active conservation, effective management and wise use when managing the reserve. Considering that human economic activity is a part of ecology, Taijiang National Park Headquarters continues to allow fishermen in Qigu to catch economic shellfish (Chinese venus clams, hard clams, razor clams) in its primary habitat when it is not the yearly overwintering season (starting from May 15). It issues fishery permits to fishermen, checks their identity carefully and protects their rights. While protecting wildlife and ecological resources, it guarantees that fishermen can perform traditional fisheries. During the time fishing is allowed, the Headquarters monitors resources, collects and analyzes scientific data year by year and adjusts the policies for open fisheries, such as that only adult fish may be caught (fish under two years old not allowed) and avoid the breeding season (from August to October), for sustainability of shellfish resource. The Headquarters introduced rolling-wave planning and divided the area into north and south areas depending on change of resource. Only the south area is available for fisheries and the north area is forbidden. Later on, based on the yearly surveys of clam groups, the Headquarters adjusted the area available for fisheries to ensure sustainability of economic shellfish resources.
Regular monitoring is conducted while the Taijiang National Park Headquarters allows clam catching. Based on catch quantity and the clam group monitoring data from researchers, it is found that clam fatness is reduced, and the Headquarters found out that the clam quantity is reduced from interviews with fisheries. The Taijiang National Park Headquarters wouldn’t take these slight changes in resources lightly. The research team investigated the clams every time it visited the beach for countless days and noticed some changes in the substrate of the bottom of the beach. Fine clay on the surface layer became thicker, and the black soil layer in the reduction layer of the sediment became darker. The Headquarters held internal discussions, conducted major and minor tests and measurements with the research team, analyzed the water quality, and compared the particles of the sediment. The Headquarters finally found the possible cause of the problem. All clues implied that the exchange of water quality in the mud flat was insufficient.
Wetland environment changes throughout the time. Plant composition changes fauna. After the elevation of the substrate of mud flat changed, the environment birds can use changes along with the wetland succession. Extended support roots and aerial roots of mangroves block the water flow. The deposition rate of the substrate increases. After the plant body withers, the subsoil elevates and the relative water level decreases. The wetland plants are gradually replaced by terrestrial plants and terrestrialized, then water birds are replaced by land birds. The water gate on the west side of the reserve is the only estuary connected to the sea. Water is discharged to the wetland through the canal when the fish farm on the east side dries. To maintain the best habitat for black-faced spoonbills, labor is required for controlling the natural succession during terrestrialization of wetland to maintain the goal for conservation of black-faced spoonbills. Therefore, it is required to interfere with and manage the habitat when necessary.
To adhere to the core goal of conservation of black-faced spoonbills, the Taijiang National Park Headquarters and the research team organized and began the conservation of black-faced spoonbills through land, air and sea forces, as well as the so called political warfare. The Biological Resources Department, National Chiayi University studied wetland aquatic life, bird use and bait. The Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University studied the current condition of elevation sedimentation of wetlands, and the water exchange during ebb and flow. First, the Taijiang National Park Headquarters and the research team integrated these studies, took drone shots, and compared satellite photos to study the colonization change of floristic groups of mangroves. The Department of Environmental Resources Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science examined and analyzed biochemical factors of water quality and sediment each time water flows into and out from the water body. After a year’s work, the research team integrated all the data, got to the bottom, and found out that the major threats to the reserve include substrate deposit, aquaculture wastewater from the fish farm on the east side, and poor exchange rate at the inlet and outlet. As the result, the mangrove expanded by 30 times compared to a decade ago (reaching 4.3 hectares). Fallen leaves, dead twigs and supporting roots block the water flow and absorb the nutrients and sediments from the fish farm on the east side. The mud flat gradually deteriorates in this viscous cycle, and changes the original habitat of black-faced spoonbills. Meanwhile, researchers noticed that gracilaria started to appear in the mud flat in February. While the climate becomes warm and hot, gracilaria in the wetland absorbs the nutrients in the water and converts them into algae. More gracilaria grows gradually and the coverage reaches the peak from July to August. Coverage reaches 100% in some areas and forms a thick algae bed. Dense gracilaria converts the excessive nutrients in the water into the substances for perching and feeding. It is a type of food in wetlands that locals could collect everywhere in the mud flat when the tide was low. However, the lush gracilaria in the mud flat during ebb after May decayed and rotted under the summer heat and formed an anoxic layer.
After several discussions, the Taijiang National Park Headquarters and the research team reached a consensus. They will adjust and improve the habitat adequately. Adjustment of the microhabitat in the mud flat and management of floristic group of mangroves are urgent matters. However, the scope of the protected area is the ecological reserve specified in the National Park Law, the reserve for black-faced spoonbills at the north bank at the estuary of Tsengwen River in Tainan specified in the Wildlife Conservation Act, an ecological hot spot numerous conservation groups pay attention to. To adjust and improve the habitat in the reserve, it is required to prevent machines from entering the mud flat, which is a top priority. The so-called political warfare was launched to reach a consensus after adequate discussion with stakeholders. Through collaboration with the research team, the Taijiang National Park Headquarters started to gather people to take action and invited a series of stakeholders to join the discussion meetings. It communicates and coordinates with the Tainan City Government Agriculture Bureau and Forestry Bureau. It also communicates with the 6th River Management Office, WRA, to brainstorm about how to reinforce water body exchange in the protected area by managing the water gate. The Taijiang National Park Headquarters explained the method and necessity of conservation to private organizations such as the Wild Bird Society of Tainan and Taiwan Black-Faced Spoonbills Conservation Association. It collaborated with local communities and fish farmers to conduct eco-friendly aquaculture and introduce the wetland label. Therefore, people who care about black-faced spoonbills would realize the ecological dilemma and possible solutions in this main habitat at the same time. Active management would be the biggest consensus.
The Taijiang National Park Headquarters works hard to communicate with all units. In the meantime, its research unit started to think about how to reduce the impact on the benthic animals and come up with a method for creating an ideal microhabitat effectively. At the moment, the research team was inspired by the clam in the fish farm on the east side, which was a quite important inspiration. During the research, it noticed that high pressure pumps are attached to the rubber raft when collecting the clams in the clam pond. The pumps inject water to clean the sediment and clams hidden in the substrate will be revealed. Therefore, the research team discussed with the clam collecting crew to lift the bamboo raft and machine tool into the mud flat during flood, row the raft to the target area for creating a tidal creek, and create a tidal creek by injecting water precisely. Besides, the research team gradually suppresses the mangrove growth by sawing off the aerial part of mangroves by hand, breaking down the twigs and leaves with an edge grinder, and cutting off the supporting roots and aerial roots. At last, a tide pool was created through a bailer in areas with dense mangroves and all the root systems were removed while creating the tide pool. While the black-faced spoonbills returned to the north in summer, workers worked hard to create a micro-topography including the tide pool and tidal creak in the mud flat before the black-faced spoonbills returned here under the sun and rain. They hoped to create tidal creeks and tide pools in the mud flat to reserve water during the ebb for shrimps, crabs, fish and shellfish to perch, and create various water depths for water birds and black-faced spoonbills to rest or forage.
While conducting tests in the microhabitat of the mud flat, the research team and all stakeholder partners tried to come up with a way to realize wise use for the management of wetlands. It’s a trouble that a part of substrates is deteriorated in summer. Researchers noticed that a few gracilaria shoots started to sprout in the mud flat in the protected area every February. When it is getting warm, gracilaria absorbs nutrients in water in its function as a producer. Algae grows rapidly by photosynthesis. The coverage of the algae in the mud flat increases every month and the gracilaria amount reaches its peak in July and August. The gracilaria withers and rots gradually due to the high temperature starting in August. Large numbers of rotten algae and dead gracilaria accumulating during the ebb lead to a degradation of substrate of the mud flat. Therefore, improvement of water quality and substrate might be possible if gracilaria is collected when deteriorated. Thus, the gracilaria experiment was started. The research team evaluated wise use after acquiring the collection permission for research experiments. In the meantime, the research team started to visit the community to introduce the time for collecting the gracilaria and the way to use it after collection. It asked wives in the community to help come up with gracilaria recipes, hoping that community residents can participate in resource management and use of gracilaria. The goal is to prevent the coverage of gracilaria group in the mud flat from reaching a peak and becoming a pollutant source that hurts the substrate. The gracilaria can also become a specialty food. With this common goal, the team started to hold promotion seminars in the community. While having fun and enjoying great food, wives in the community attending the seminar really wished that they can cook great dishes when the gracilaria is available for picking. In this way, locals can take part in maintaining the quality of the habitat for black-faced spoonbills. Meanwhile, it is hoped that gracilaria can be picked and used like before, so that it can become a traditional food ingredient once again, and gracilaria picking can become a special local activity.
The reserve for black-faced spoonbills proves that wetland is a treasure the nature gives to humans and a place for many animals to perch and live. Human expansion directly or indirectly changed the natural physical or chemical cycle of wetlands, and changed or destroyed the original function of wetlands. The function of the reserve for black-faced spoonbills in Taijiang National Park is to propose an adequate method for wise use based on scientific proof. Through effective communication and coordination across public sectors, a new, friendly lifestyle for humans to get along with wetlands can be found to achieve sustainability.