Zengwen River wetland and Sicao wetland in Taijiang National Park are the two major areas on the island that have attracted black-faced spoonbills to spend their winter every year. And here on CTS, let's have a closer look at the huge diversity of animal and plant species in the wetlands.

Every year in mid-October, black-faced spoonbills arrive in Taiwan for the winter.

Upon leaving the island in April of the next year, the spoonbills return to North and South Korea to reproduce.

Because Taijiang National Park's Zengwen River Wetlands and Sicao Wetlands meet the needs of black-faced spoonbills, they were officially classified as international wetlands in 2007.

The Zengwen River Wetlands attract not only black-faced spoonbills and other migratory birds, but also benthos organisms and aquatic species.

As reclusive fiddler crabs peer out from their burrows, mudskippers jump from spot to spot.

Taijiang was founded at the end of 2009, and is Taiwan's eighth national park.

Like the Zengwen River Wetlands, Sicao Mangrove Preserve has a unique ecology and attracts migratory birds, fiddler crabs, and mudskippers.

In addition, four types of mangroves can be found here.

According to civic groups that have kept a watch on Sicao Wetlands for many years, the local government needs to take a more proactive role in incorporating the wetlands into Taijiang National Park.

Windbreak forests of horsetail trees and wave dissipating concrete blocks piled against sandbars cannot withstand the forces of nature.

As the sandbars shrink in size, the danger to the wetlands grows.

At present time, Cigu's coastline is retreating at a rate of 11 meters per year.

The livelihoods of local fishermen are being threatened, which in turn threatens the existence of black-faced spoonbills.

The wetlands may be classified as international wetlands, but the forces of nature are much more far-reaching than the work of man.