National parks of Taiwan
Introduction Yangmingshan National Park'''National parks of Taiwan''' are protected spaces for the nature, wildlife, and history under their current jurisdiction. Currently there are nine national parks in Taiwan, all under the administration of the Ministry of the Interior. These national parks cover . The  total land area constitutes around 8.6% of the entire land area of the country.The first national parks were designated for establishment in 1937, when Taiwan was under Japanese rule, though never formally managed as such. After World War II, calls for protecting the natural environment were met with opposition due to the prioritization of economic development. The National Park Law was passed in 1972 and the first national park was established in 1984.National parks should not be confused with national scenic areas. The national scenic areas are administered by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. There are also different philosophies that govern the development of the two types of areas. For a national park, the emphasis is on the preservation of natural and cultural resources, with development for human utilization being a secondary priority.
History The first  in Taiwan were planned on December 27, 1937, by Governor-General . This was when Taiwan was under Japanese rule, thus the three national parks were to be national parks of the Empire of Japan.NameJapaneseTaiwaneseToday's equivalentToā-tūn Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂gYangmingshan National ParkSin-ko A-lí-san Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂gYushan National Park and Alishan National Scenic AreaChhù-ko Thài-ló͘-koh Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂gTaroko National Park and Shei-Pa National ParkThe legal basis for these national parks was no longer in force when Japan withdrew from Taiwan in 1945 after World War II. However, these planned national parks formed the basis for subsequent national park establishments.
Current national parks of Taiwan Currently there are nine national parks in Taiwan. There is also one national nature park, which is designed for areas with fewer resources compared to a full national park.NameChineseMandarinTaiwaneseHakkaDate establishedAreaDescriptionImageKenting National Park|Kěndīng Guójiā GōngyuánKhún-teng Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gKhén-tên Koet-kâ Kûng-yènJanuary 1, 1984, 180.84 km2 of land, and 152.06 km2 waterLocated on the southern tip of Taiwan, it is also the oldest national park on Taiwan (Pingtung County). Kenting is famous for its tropical coral reefs and migratory birds.150pxYushan National Park|Yùshān Guójiā GōngyuánGio̍k-san Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gNgiu̍k-sân Koet-kâ Kûng-yènApril 6, 1985The largest national park in Taiwan, located on the central part of the island. It is named after Mount Jade (Yushan literally means "Jade Mountain") which is the highest peak in East Asia at 3,952 metres.150pxYangmingshan National Park|Yángmíngshān Guójiā GōngyuánIûⁿ-bêng-soaⁿ Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gYòng-mìn-sân Koet-kâ Kûng-yènSeptember 16, 1985The northernmost national park on the island of Taiwan; it has a volcanic landform. Yangmingshan is famous for its hotsprings and geothermal phenomenon. Each spring, Yangmingshan also has a dazzling flower season. It is located partially in Taipei City and partially in New Taipei City.150pxTaroko National Park|Tàilǔgé Guójiā GōngyuánThài-ló͘-koh Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gThai-lû-kok Koet-kâ Kûng-yènNovember 28, 1986A magnificent marble gorge cut by Liwu River, creating one of the most astounding landscapes in the world. It is also the home of the indigenous Truku people. Taroko is located in eastern Taiwan.150pxShei-Pa National Park|Xuěbà Guójiā GōngyuánSoat-pà Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gSiet-pa Koet-kâ Kûng-yènJuly 1, 1992Located in the northern central part of Taiwan island, in Hsinchu County and Miaoli County. It encompasses Xueshan (Snow Mountain), the second tallest mountain in Taiwan and East Asia, and Dabajian Mountain.150pxKinmen National Park|Jīnmén Guójiā GōngyuánKim-mn̂g Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gKîm-mùn Koet-kâ Kûng-yènOctober 18, 1995Located on an island just off the coast of Mainland China, it includes famous historical battlefields in Kinmen. It is also known for its wetland ecosystem and traditional Fujian buildings that date back to the Ming Dynasty. 150pxDongsha Atoll National Park|Dōngshā Huánjiāo Guójiā GōngyuánTang-soa Khoân-ta Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gTûng-sâ Fàn-chiâu Koet-kâ Kûng-yènOctober 4, 2007, including 1.79 km2 of landTaiwan's first marine national park. The atoll and the adjacent waters provide for a rich biodiversity of marine life including fish, jellyfish, squid, sicklefin lemon sharks, and rays to sea turtles, Dugongs, and cetaceans (dolphins and whales). Because of a strict protection policy, it is currently not open to public tourism.150pxTaijiang National Park|Táijiāng Guójiā GōngyuánTâi-kang Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gThòi-kông Koet-kâ Kûng-yènDecember 28, 2009, 49.05 km2 of land, and 344.05 km2 waterLocated in southwest Taiwan on the coast of Tainan City. The park's tidal landscape is one of its most distinctive features. Around 200 years ago, a large part of the park was part of the Taijiang Inland Sea. There is a rich variety of marine life, including 205 species of shellfish, 240 species of fish and 49 crab species that thrive on the marshes of southern Taiwan.150pxSouth Penghu Marine National Park|Pénghú Nánfāng Sìdǎo Guójiā GōngyuánPhêⁿ-ô͘ Lâm-hong Sù-tóKok-ka Kong-hn̂gPhàng-fù Nàm-fông Si-tóKoet-kâ Kûng-yènOctober 18, 2014, including 3.70 km2 of landLocated in the south of the Penghu Islands. The seas around the islets feature large clusters of Acropora coral and a diversity of fish and shells living among the reefs. The islets are also known for magnificent basalt terrains and unique low-roofed houses built by early inhabitants with coral stone and basalt.150px===National Nature Park===NameChineseMandarinTaiwaneseHakkaDate establishedAreaImageShoushan National Nature Park|Shòushān Guójiā Zìrán GōngyuánSiū-san Kok-ka Chū-jiân Kong-hn̂gSu-sân Koet-kâ Chhṳ-yèn Kûng-yènDecember 6, 2011150px
Proposed national parks Five other national parks were proposed but the plans of formation were halted due to opposition:* 馬告檜木國家公園 ("Makauy National Park for ''Chamaecyparis formosensis''", opposed by local indigenous peoples)* 能丹國家公園("Neng-Dan National Park", opposed by the Bunun people)* 蘭嶼國家公園 ("Ponso no Tao National Park", opposed by the Tao people)* 綠島國家公園 ("Green Island National Park", opposed by the inhabitants. )* 北方三島海洋國家公園 ("Three Northern Islets Marine National Park")===Proposed national nature park===Another national nature park was proposed but the plans of formation were halted due to opposition:* 美濃國家自然公園 ("Meinong National Nature Park", opposed by some inhabitants.)
References
External links *  National Parks of Taiwan