Yong'an Wetlands Introduction
Yongan Wetland was formerly the Wushulin Salt Field, established in 1908, and it played a crucial role as a major salt production base in southern Taiwan. It witnessed the rise and fall of the salt industry in Taiwan. During the Japanese colonial period, the salt fields thrived. After the Nationalist government took over in 1952, they reorganized it into the "Taiwan Salt Manufacturing Corporation," continuing the development of the salt industry. However, with industrial transformation in the 1970s, the salt industry gradually declined. In 1985, Taipower acquired the area, planning it for the expansion of the Hsin-ta Power Plant, marking the end of the once-prosperous salt fields in history. The Wushulin Salt Manufacturing Corporation, located within the Yongan Wetland, is the most historically significant building in this area. The site office features traditional European Dutch Baroque architecture incorporated with some Japanese styles, standing prominently in the middle of the abandoned salt flats. However, after the salt fields were abandoned, the office lacked proper management and was eroded by the high salinity environment, leading to severe damage and even labeling it as a dangerous building at one point. With an increase in local cultural awareness, Taipower began to pay attention to this historical site and invested in restoration funds in 2006, allowing this century-old building to regain its former appearance and become a significant historical monument that witnesses the rise and fall of Taiwan's salt industry. The Wushulin Salt Manufacturing Corporation has endured from the Japanese colonial era to the present day, and although the office has long been empty, it still evokes a sense of history while standing among the vast salt flats, as if narrating the prosperous glory of the salt industry, making it a highly valuable historical and cultural industrial building. Yongan Mangrove Natural Park: A Pathway of Coexistence between Ecology and Human Rights In the past, Yongan Wetland was a salt field area, later severely polluted by coal ash when Taipower established the Hsin-ta Thermal Power Plant, making salt production impossible. In 1986, Taipower planned to use this area for coal storage, but faced with local residents and environmentalists' opposition, they eventually garnered government support, and in 1996, it was established as "Yongan Mangrove Natural Park." Nowadays, this site not only witnesses the industrial transformation in Taiwan but also becomes the richest mangrove ecological region along the coastline of Kaohsiung, home to various bird species and aquatic life, serving as an important site for observing natural ecology and promoting environmental education, showcasing the sustainable value of coexistence between humans and nature. A Rich Ecological Treasure of Mangroves and Birds Yongan Wetland boasts a rich mangrove ecosystem that not only prevents wind and sand, protects the shoreline, and purifies water quality, but also serves as a vital habitat for numerous organisms. The main mangrove species in Taiwan include Kandelia obovata, Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Rhizophora stylosa, with Southern Taiwan predominantly featuring Avicennia marina and Aegiceras corniculatum, forming a diverse ecological green barrier. From October to April, rare migratory birds such as the Black-faced Spoonbill migrate from the north and reach their peak numbers between January and March, making this wetland an important habitat for wintering and foraging. Additionally, Yongan Salt Fields, as the largest salt flat wetland in southern Taiwan, attract over 110 bird species, including first-class protected species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, Eastern White Stork, and Peregrine Falcon, as well as second-class protected species like the Black Stork, Osprey, and Little Tern. Each spring and autumn, large numbers of shorebirds stop here, creating a spectacular birdwatching scene, attracting numerous nature enthusiasts to explore. Thanks to its rich ecological resources, Yongan Wetland was designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International in 1999, and in 2018, it was evaluated by the Ministry of the Interior as a locally significant wetland. This area not only features lush mangrove green corridors but is also a paradise for migratory birds, showcasing the vibrant vitality of wetland ecology.
