South Taiwan monsoon rain forests


The South Taiwan monsoon rain forests ecoregion covers the southern tip of Taiwan, 200 km east of the mainland. The area is one of high biodiversity, due to its location between temperate and subtropical zones, its monsoon exposure, and its high altitude variation.

Location and description

The ecoregion covers only the southernmost 60 km of the island, 70 km west to east at its widest. The central ridge is mountainous, with a flat coastal flat on the northwest. The ecoregion is only 1,000 square miles in area. Much of the southern tip of the island is protected by Kenting National Park. It is bounded on the north by the Taiwan subtropical evergreen forests ecoregion.

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Dry-winter humid subtropical climate. This climate is characterized as having no month averaging below, at least one month averaging above, and four months averaging over. Precipitation in the wet summer months is ten time or more the average of the winter months.

Flora and fauna

The inland mountains support forests of both evergreen and deciduous trees. The evergreens include Chinese banyan and Chinese cryptocarya ''; deciduous trees include Kapok. The coastal mangrove forests feature the Asiatic mangrove and Black mangrove. The coastal areas support migratory birds on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.

Conservation

A 2017 assessment found that 349 km², or 14%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Another 68% is forested but outside protected areas.