Taiwan Church News 3389 Edition February 6 - 12, 2017 Church Ministry Changhua Coastal Wetland Urged To Be Legalized As A Ecological Conservation ZoneReported by Simon Lin Though Taiwan's Wetland Conservation Act has alrady been passed on 2nd February 2015, intentionally to complywith UN's World Wetland Day on annual 2nd February, the biggest estuarine ecosystem with 6 kilometers' intertidal belt composed of muddy sediments at Changhua coastal wetland is still not legally recognized as an ecological conservation zone. Changhua Environmental Protection Union(CEPU) urges the government should proceed a positive administrativeaction, declaring Changhua coastal wetland as a legal zone immediately, ignoring some groundless accusations that such order of environmental protection would impede local development or the people's daily business. Changhua coastal wetland, with a 6 kilometer's intertidal belt formed by estuary muds from Chou-sui River, is acritical natural reserve of very critical bird species like Far Eastern Curlew, Gull and etc. The population of these critical bird species at this treasured wetland is even estimated to reach 1% of their global quantity. In addition, the bio-diversity of the benthic creatures under this wetland is abundantly rich and absolutely deserves a legal recognition and protection from Taiwan society! Translated by Peter Wolfe |