Yong'an Wetland Introduction
Yongan Wetlands was formerly known as Wushulin Salt Field, established in 1908, and it was an important salt production base in southern Taiwan, witnessing the rise and fall of the salt industry in Taiwan. During the Japanese colonial period, the salt fields flourished, and in 1952, the Nationalist government took over and reorganized it into the "Taiwan Salt Company," continuing to develop the salt industry. However, with industrial transformation in the 1970s, salt production gradually declined. In 1985, Taiwan Power Company acquired the area, planning to use it for the expansion of the Hsingta Power Plant, marking the end of the once-thriving salt fields in history. The Wushulin Salt Company, located within Yongan Wetlands, is the most historically valuable building in this area. The main office of the company adopts European traditional Dutch Baroque architecture, incorporating some Japanese style, standing out prominently in the middle of the abandoned salt flats. However, after the salt fields were deserted, the building long lacked management, and the high salinity environment caused increasing damage, leading it to become a dangerous building at one point. With the rise of local cultural awareness, Taiwan Power Company began to pay attention to this historical site and, in 2006, invested in restoration funds, allowing this century-old building to regain its former appearance, becoming an important historical site witnessing the rise and fall of Taiwan's salt industry. From the Japanese colonial period to today, the Wushulin Salt Company's facade is beautiful, and the pebble construction is exquisite. Although the main office is now empty, standing in the vast salt flats, one can still feel the historical atmosphere as if the glory of the salt industry of the past is being recounted, representing an industrial building of significant historical and cultural value. Yongan Mangrove Natural Park: A Path of Ecological Coexistence and Human Rights Yongan Wetlands, once a salt production area, faced severe coal ash pollution after Taiwan Power Company set up the Hsingta Power Plant here, making it impossible to produce salt. In 1986, Taiwan Power Company planned to use this area as a coal storage site, but with the intervention of local residents and environmentalists, government support was secured, and in 1996 it was designated as "Yongan Mangrove Natural Park." Today, this area not only witnesses Taiwan's industrial transformation but also becomes the region with the richest mangrove ecology along the coast of Kaohsiung, housing various bird species and aquatic plants, serving as an important site for observing natural ecology and promoting environmental education, reflecting the sustainable value of human-nature coexistence. An Ecological Treasure Land for Mangroves and Birds Yongan Wetlands is rich in mangrove ecology, providing functions such as windbreaks, sand fixation, bank protection, and water purification, while serving as an essential habitat for diverse species. The main mangrove species in Taiwan include Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Avicennia marina, with Kandelia obovata and Aegiceras corniculatum commonly found in the southern region, forming an ecologically diverse green barrier. From October to April of the following year, rare migratory birds such as the black-faced spoonbill migrate from the north, peaking in numbers from January to March, making this wetland an important habitat for them to winter and forage. Moreover, as the largest salt marsh wetland in southern Taiwan, Yongan Salt Field attracts over 110 species of birds, including first-class protected species like the black-faced spoonbill, oriental white stork, and peregrine falcon, as well as second-class protected species like the black stork, fish eagle, and little tern. During the spring and autumn seasons, large flocks of shorebirds stop here, creating a spectacular birdwatching scene, attracting many nature enthusiasts to explore. With its rich ecological resources, Yongan Wetlands was designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International in 1999 and recognized as a local-level important wetland by the Ministry of the Interior in 2018. It not only features lush green corridors of mangroves but also serves as a paradise for migratory birds, fully showcasing the vibrant vitality of wetland ecology.
