National Parks of Taiwan

In coping with the coming of the World Wetlands Day, the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of Interior held the “2017 World Wetlands Day: Progress Recognition Ceremony on Wetlands” on Jan. 20th to promote wetland conservation ideas and express gratitude and recognition to organizations and groups who have put in hard work and contributed to promoting environmental friendly agriculture and fishery.

Feb. 2nd of each year has been adopted as the World Wetlands Day. Why was this date chosen? On Feb. 2nd, 1971, representatives from 18 countries gathered as a small coastal city of Ramsar in southern Iran and signed the “Convention of Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitats” (known as the “Ramsar Convention”). In order to enhance the public’s awareness and care on the conservation of wetlands, Wetlands International adopted Feb. 2nd as the World Wetlands Day since 1997.

Taiwan is a place with many wetland habitats and environments, and has endeavored in the conservation and the restoration of wetlands. Director General Syu Wun-long of the Construction and Planning Agency stated that since 2009, the Construction and Planning Agency has endeavored itself in promoting the rewarding and subsidy operations of “Taiwan‘s Wetlands of Importance” project. Through legislative activities and evaluating wetlands of importance, the project subsidizes local governments in implementing various operations including conservation projects and educational propaganda. Under close cooperation between local government departments, local communities and various NGOs, it has constantly enhanced local participation, propaganda on the ideas of domestic wetland conservation and implements the goal of utilizing wetlands wisely.

In this year’s World Wetlands Day event, representatives from various governmental sectors along with NGOs gathered together as Director General Syu Wun-long awarded units that have performed outstandingly in the “2015 Taiwan‘s Wetlands of Importance” project. It included six projects that have won “Distinguished Honor” (which were the three local governments of Kaohsiung City Government, Nantou County Government and Hsinchu County Government) and 28 projects that have won “Excellent Performance”.

In addition to that, this ceremony also expressed gratitude to domestic NGOs on their hard works and contributions on last year’s “2016 International Wetland Convention”, including providing assistance in inviting major international organizations coming to Taiwan to accept interviews and exchange information, inviting domestic and international scholars to participate in the convention, and signed MOU regarding wetland issue cooperation, and expressed gratitude and recognition on organizations that have contributed for a long time on the conservation and restoration of the wetlands in Taiwan, such as Taiwan Wetland Society, the Asian branch of Society of Wetland Scientists, the Society of Wilderness and others. For further information, please log on to the website of “Taiwan’s Wetland: Ramsar Citizen” (http://wetland-tw.tcd.gov.tw).