Back from the Brink--Success Stories in Bird Conservation

In the latest edition of BI's Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book, published in June 2001, the black-faced spoonbill is downlisted from the most highly threatened category, "critically endangered," to the second category, "endangered." This is thanks to successful conservation efforts that have allowed the population of southern Taiwan's most famous migratory bird to recover. In fact, two years ago BI had already taken four Taiwanese endemic bird species-the mikado pheasant, Swinhoe's pheasant, the Taiwan tit and the Taiwan hill partridge-off its critically endangered list.

There has been no substantial growth in the populations of other rare bird species, but with the increasing popularity of birdwatching in Taiwan, rising environmental consciousness, and the introduction of practical measures for bird protection in many localities, birds are nonetheless clearly receiving better treatment. An example is the fairy pitta habitat of Hupen Village in Yunlin County. Responding to the threat of increased gravel extraction, village warden Eva Yin led locals and people from outside in calling for conservation of the fairy pitta's habitat. As a result, the COA is considering making part of Hupen a protected site, and local support for development has waned. The migratory fairy pitta returns to Hupen every year, and is even seen in such places as Mt. Pakua or downtown Changhua and Yuanlin.

On 8 June, BI communications manager Dr. Richard Thomas, visiting Taiwan to observe the situation of birds here, said that in the ten days he spent touring the island he had noticed that both ornithological groups and the government attached great importance to conservation. Indeed, credit for the successes in bird conservation in recent years is due primarily to local wild bird societies islandwide. The conservation of the pheasant-tailed jacana is a well-known example of what birdlovers have achieved.

Industrial and commercial development and the destruction of wetlands had reduced the pheasant-tailed jacana's range until it was mostly found in the water-caltrop fields of Kuantien Rural Township, Tainan County. With the planned high-speed rail line slated to pass through Kuantien's wetlands, the bird's fate appeared to be sealed. But thanks to campaigning by groups such as the Tainan Wild Bird Society and Wetlands Taiwan, calls to save the jacana echoed throughout the land. Eventually the Bureau of Taiwan High-Speed Rail found funds to lease 50 hectares of wetland, to be preserved as the last home of the pheasant-tailed jacana.

In early June, after Hsinchu City Government redrew the boundaries of the planned Hsiangshan landfill and industrial zone, the COA designated the Keya Creek estuary and Hsiangshan wetlands as an "important wildlife habitat." This granted a last-minute reprieve to the wetlands, which provide a habitat for at least 274 bird species.

Thanks to Taiwan's special geographical position, it is blessed with over 400 bird species, including 15 that are unique to the island. Richard Thomas of BI said with obvious pleasure that the greatest benefit he had gained from his visit to Taiwan had been getting to see 14 of Taiwan's endemic bird species in the wild. Birds are a valuable part of Taiwan's heritage, and as well as working hard to promote the conservation of endangered species within Taiwan, WBFT has never forgotten to work with conservation groups internationally.

According to the 2001 edition of BI's Threatened Birds of the World, one bird species in eight worldwide is under threat and can be expected to disappear within the next 100 years. Over the last two centuries, 103 bird species are known to have gone extinct. By 2010, a further 460 species may have been lost.

Economic development and intense exploitation of resources by humankind are the main reason why more than 1100 bird species worldwide are under threat. Bird species' survival is particularly menaced by global environmental problems such as the greenhouse effect and marine pollution, and therefore bird conservation requires international cooperation to have any chance of success.

Recently, WBFT has stepped up its collaboration with various bird conservation organizations worldwide. With funding from the COA, it worked with BI to launch the "E-Birds Global Educational Initiative to Save the Birds" in June 2001. International events include "Save the Birds" website design and children's digital painting competitions, open to entrants from all countries. Taiwan's achievements in conservation are also presented through exhibitions on such topics as black-faced spoonbill habitat conservation and pheasant-tailed jacana habitat rehabilitation.

"Today it's the birds, tomorrow the human race." Birds are an important indicator of the state of ecosystems and the environment. The extinction of bird species should be the most urgent warning to humans. But success in bird conservation also represents an improvement in human quality of life. Surely this will also be the greatest reward that humanity can gain from nature conservation work.