30-Second Overview: Taiwan occupies only 0.025% of global landmass yet hosts over 50,000 recorded flora and fauna, with a forest cover rate reaching 60.71%, which is double the global average of 30.3%. From sea level to the 3,952-meter peak of Yushan (玉山), it forms a complete ecological gradient, nurturing an astonishing proportion of endemic species—71% of mammals and 60% of certain insect groups.
Why can this small island, located on the North Tropic, be a global biodiversity hotspot? The answer lies in Taiwan's unique geography and complex topography.
Small Island, Great Vitality: Miracles Behind the Numbers
The 2009 National Taiwan Species Catalog (台灣物種名錄) reported that Taiwan has recorded over 50,000 species, accounting for approximately 2.5% of global species. While this proportion may not seem high, the sheer density of life on Taiwan's land area of only 36,000 square kilometers is astonishing.
Even more remarkable is the rate of endemic species:
- Mammals: 71% (such as the Formosan black bear and Taiwanese macaques)
- Amphibians: 31% (such as the Taiwan fire salamander)
- Plants: 25%
- Certain Insect Groups: As high as 60%
These figures reflect the uniqueness of Taiwan's island geography—its separation from the mainland facilitated the evolution of endemic species, while complex topography and climate variations created rich ecological niches.
Vertical Ecological Spectacle: From Tropical to Cold Temperate Zones
Taiwan’s most unique ecological feature is its vertical ecological gradient. Within a height difference of less than 4,000 meters, it fully presents all climatic zones from tropical to cold temperate:
Sea Level to 500m: Tropical monsoon forests, represented by banyan trees and eggplant-like trees (Qie-dong)
500–1,500m: Subtropical broadleaf forests, where camphor trees and cinnamon trees thrive
1,500–2,500m: Temperate coniferous and broadleaf mixed forests, featuring giant Taiwan cypress trees
2,500–3,500m: Subalpine coniferous forests, where Taiwanese firs and firs adapt to cold weather
Above 3,500m: Alpine vegetation zone, dotted with Yushan rhododendrons and snow plants
This vertical distribution is extremely rare globally, allowing Taiwan to condense the ecosystems of most global climate zones onto its 36,000 square kilometers.
Forest Kingdom: Green Cover Ranked 33rd in the World
Taiwan's forest cover rate is 60.71%, ranking 33rd globally, which is double the global average of 30.3%. This figure is even more precious in a highly developed region.
There are significant differences in forest cover rates among counties:
- Taitung County: 81.64% (Highest)
- Hualien County: 80.54%
- Yilan County: 78.55%
- In contrast, the forest cover rate in western plain counties is often below 20%.
These forests are not just beautiful scenery; they are the core of Taiwan's biodiversity. Approximately 86% of the forests are legally protected, with 73% being natural forests and 27% being planted forests.
The Last Bastions of Endangered Species
Leopard Cat: An Indicator Species of Foothill Ecosystems
The leopard cat, the only native feline species remaining in Taiwan, is currently estimated to number around 500, primarily inhabiting the foothill areas of Miaoli, Taichung, and Nantou.
Roadkill is the most direct threat facing the leopard cat. According to statistics from the Leopard Cat Team, 25 leopards were killed by vehicles in 2021, with 15 incidents in Miaoli, 6 in Nantou, and 2 each in Taichung and Changhua. Many death sites are located along rivers such as the Houlong Creek, Zhuoshui Creek, and Maoluo Creek, indicating severe habitat fragmentation. Besides roadkill, attacks by stray dog packs and canine-feline diseases have emerged as another set of threats in recent years: see Taiwan Leopard Cat Conservation for records of killings, and Stray Animal Culture in Taiwan regarding how strays introduce canine distemper into foothill areas, cause infections, and subsequently increase the risk of roadkill.
Clouded Leopard of Taiwan: The Vanished King
In 2014, scholars officially declared the clouded leopard of Taiwan extinct, with the last confirmed sighting occurring in 1983. The disappearance of this endemic subspecies became a significant turning point in Taiwan's ecological awareness, prompting society to place greater emphasis on conserving existing endangered species.
Asiatic Black Bear: King of the Mountains
As the largest terrestrial mammal in Taiwan, there are currently an estimated 500 to 700 individuals. Although protected by law, it still faces threats such as habitat fragmentation and human-bear conflict. In recent years, both the government and civil society have actively promoted conservation plans, including setting up electric fences and establishing monitoring systems.
The Rich Treasure of Marine Ecosystems
Surrounded by sea on all sides, Taiwan's 1,566-kilometer coastline nurtures a rich marine ecosystem. Multiple currents, such as the Kuroshio Current and the China Coastal Current, intersect here, bringing abundant nutrients and life.
Coral reefs are the pearls of Taiwan's marine ecology, distributed in areas like Northeast Cape, North Coast, Green Island (Lüdao), Lanyu, and Kenting. Taiwan has recorded about 300 species of coral, accounting for one-third of the world's total. However, climate change, marine pollution, and over-tourism pose serious threats to these reefs.
Conservation Success Story: The Black-faced Spoonbill Miracle
The Black-faced Spoonbill is a model success story in Taiwanese conservation. In 1988, only 288 individuals remained globally. Taiwan collaborated with Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Japan to establish an international cooperative network for conservation.
Through efforts such as habitat creation, international monitoring, and environmental education, the Black-faced Spoonbill population has grown steadily, reaching 6,162 individuals in 2024, with areas like Qixu in Taiwan becoming important wintering grounds. This success story proves that cross-border cooperation and long-term commitment can reverse the fate of endangered species.
Invasive Species Invasion: The Invisible Killer of Ecosystems
Taiwan faces a serious invasive species problem:
Plant Tyrants: Codiaeum variegatum (small ornamental vine) covers mountainsides, while Prosopis juliflora (silver acacia) alters soil properties.
Aquatic Destroyers: the giant river prawn damages rice paddy ecosystems; the American crayfish threatens native freshwater organisms.
Soil Invaders: Red ants establish vast underground kingdoms with extreme aggression.
These invasive species lack natural predators to balance them, often allowing rapid expansion and severely threatening the balance of local ecosystems.
The Challenge of Climate Change
Climate change poses the greatest impact on Taiwan's alpine ecosystems. As temperatures rise, the suitable habitat for high-mountain plants continuously retreats uphill, but there is nowhere left to retreat.
High-altitude endemic species such as Yushan rhododendrons and Taiwanese firs face a predicament with "nowhere to go." Scientists estimate that if global warming reaches 2°C, Taiwan's alpine ecosystem will undergo drastic changes.
Sea level rise also threatens coastal wetlands, which are crucial stopover sites on migratory routes for birds. Achieving a balance between development and conservation is the long-term challenge facing Taiwan.
Future Outlook: Technology Aiding Conservation
Taiwan is utilizing new technologies to strengthen biodiversity conservation:
Taiwan Biodiversity Network (TBN): Integrates biological survey data from across the island, providing an online query platform.
DNA Barcoding: Accelerates species identification and discovers new species.
Remote Sensing Monitoring: Tracks forest changes in real-time and assesses conservation effectiveness.
Citizen Science: Mobilizes public participation in biological monitoring through platforms like eBird Taiwan and iNaturalist.
Taiwan's biodiversity is its most precious asset. Against the backdrop of the Sixth Mass Extinction, Taiwan, as a biodiversity hotspot, bears the heavy responsibility of protecting a global reservoir of life.
From the conservation of the formosan black bear to the rehabilitation of the Black-faced Spoonbill, from forest protection to the maintenance of marine ecosystems, Taiwan is writing an exciting story of great conservation on a small island. Facing the dual challenges of climate change and development pressure, how this land can continue to nurture rich life will be a shared mission for all Taiwanese people.
References
- Great Epoch - Taiwan Species Catalog Released: Over 50,000 species account for 2.5% globally
- Kilu Taiwan - Taiwan Forest Cover Rate is 60.71%, ranking 33rd in the world
- Environmental Information Center - Large-scale roadkill report from Miaoli County
Further Reading
This article provides an overview; each species and ecosystem has its own in-depth entry on the site:
- Taiwan Leopard Conservation — A population of five hundred, facing pressure from roadkill, dog killings, and habitat fragmentation simultaneously.
- Taiwan Stray Animal Culture — After zero-culling, the unresolved issue between roaming dogs/cats and mountain wildlife.
- Taiwan Black Bear — The largest terrestrial mammal on the island and the reality of human-bear conflict.
- Blackfaced Spoonbill — From 288 to over six thousand, how international conservation saved a species.
- Endemic Species — How a high proportion of endemic species came to be on this island.
- Taiwan Forest Ecosystem — The actual structure beneath the 60.71% forest cover.
- Taiwan Mountain Ecosystem and Ice Age Relicts — High-mountain species with no retreat and living evidence of the Ice Age.
- Taiwan Marine Ecosystem and Coral Reef Conservation — The current state of waters hosting one-third of the world's coral species.