Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lowland forests still exist along the east and in parts of Kenting National Park. In other
areas you will find dense second-growth forests.
Submontane (Subtropical Zone): 300-1500m
It's in these broadleaf forests that most people get their first taste of just how unspoiled
and luxuriant Taiwan's forests can be. It's a jungle-like environment teeming with birds,
insects, snakes and so many ferns that you often can't count the number of species in one
patch. Though ferns can grow as high as trees (giving forests a distinct 'Lost World'
feel), common larger plant species include camphor, Machilus, crepe myrtle, maple tree,
gums and cedar.
You can see submontane plants in Nanao, the Pingxi Branch Rail Line, the Walami
Trail and Wulai.
Montane (Temperate Zone): 1600-3100m
The montane forests vary greatly because the elevation changes mean there are warm
temperate and cool temperate zones. You might start your journey in a mixed broadleaf
forest that soon turns to evergreen oaks. At higher elevations conifers such as Taiwan red
cypress, Taiwania, alder, hemlock and pine start to predominate. In areas that have been
disturbed by landslide or fire you often get large tracts of Taiwan red pine. When their
needles fall, the forest floor becomes almost ruby in colour.
Between 2500m and 3100m in elevation a natural pine-hemlock zone runs down the
centre of Taiwan. This is one of the most pristine parts of the country (logging never
went this high) and many trees are hundreds and even thousands of years old. A good
part of any hike to the high mountains will be spent in this zone.
You can see montane plants along the Alishan Forest Train ( Click here ) , Forestry Road
200 ( Click here ) , and the hiking trails in Yushan National Park and Snow Mountain.
THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH PROMOTION PROJECT
In 2009 a seven-year study by the Biodiversity Research Centre of Academia Sin-
ica reported that Taiwan had 50,164 native species in eight kingdoms, 55 phyla,
126 classes, 610 orders and 2900 families. To cut to the chase, this means that
Taiwan, with only 0.025% of the world's land mass, holds 2.5% of the world's spe-
cies. It's a rate of endemism 100 times the world average.
The study, the first since British diplomat and naturalist Robert Swinhoe com-
pleted his own in the late 19th century, was a revelation - to put it mildly. Altogeth-
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