NTU's Programmes for Good Aquatic Stewardship of Local Ecosystems (2025)
National Taiwan University develops and supports ongoing programmes that encourage good aquatic stewardship practices among students, faculty, and local communities, spanning campus water bodies and nearby waterways, lakes, and reservoirs in Taiwan.
NTU Campus Blue Ribbon Plan (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Local Community, Students, Faculty, and Staff
NTU has successfully integrated campus landscape with natural water systems through the "Campus Blue Ribbon Plan", creating a dense network of waterways and fostering a diverse ecological environment and waterfront spaces. This project not only beautifies the campus but also regulates the microclimate, reduces the urban heat island effect, and serves multiple purposes such as flood control, disaster prevention, and providing habitats for biodiversity.
The Blue Ribbon Plan was designed along historical watercourse routes. By collecting local historical records of the Liu-Gong Canal (including historical documents and oral histories from local residents), the university discovered that the canal once flowed through the campus. To increase aquatic environments within the urban setting, NTU collaborated with the local government to dismantle campus boundary walls, construct symbolic watercourse imagery, and design pedestrian walkways. This setup allows surrounding communities, students, and faculty to jointly share the waterfront spaces together, effectively creating urban ecological stepping stones that enrich biological habitats.
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The Blue Belt Initiative uncovers historical waterways and connects the campus's blue and green networks, effectively mitigating the urban heat island effect. By adding natural stepping stones and native vegetation, the project enriches biodiversity while creating habitats for diverse flora and fauna. Furthermore, permeable paved walkways were installed to enhance urban water infiltration, fostering a harmonious ecosystem where human life and nature coexist.
Campus Lake/Ecological Pool Maintenance & Water Quality Management (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: General Public, Nearby Residents, Students, Faculty, and Staff
As an open venue, the NTU campus serves as a public space for the general public, neighboring residents, students, and faculty. By maintaining campus aquatic spaces, the university creates accessible waterfront environments for stakeholders, enhances biological habitats, and empowers students to engage in actions such as water quality monitoring to jointly improve the campus aquatic environment.
To maintain the campus aquatic ecosystem, the university conducts monthly water quality monitoring and performs maintenance and record-keeping twice a week.
Additionally, biological water quality management methods are employed, such as stocking algae-eating fish and planting aquatic plants known to improve water quality, to sustain the campus aquatic environment ecosystem.
Liugong Water Source Pond Maintenance (Ongoing)
During on-site inspections, the invasive plant species Hydrocotyle ranunculoides (floating pennywort) was identified. To prevent the proliferation of invasive species and ensure the intake of Liugong Pond remains unobstructed, removal operations were initiated.
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2025 Drunken Moon Lake Water Quality Improvement and Maintenance (Ongoing)
Monthly water quality monitoring across campus water bodies is conducted regularly, measuring parameters including water temperature, pH, ammonia nitrogen, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and transparency. From the most recent dataset, the recorded values ranged as follows: water temperature 18.5–32.5 °C, pH 6.0–7.2, ammonia nitrogen maintained at 0 ppm, electrical conductivity 71.6–251 µs/cm, dissolved oxygen 2.7–7.7 ppm, and transparency 35–70 cm.
Water quality management employs both physical and biological controls. Physical measures include the installation of aeration systems (wave-making aerators, water mixers, and solar-powered aeration units).
In 2026, ecological restoration was initiated by introducing the native plant species Nuphar shimadae (Critically Endangered, CR) into the water body. The plant successfully bloomed and effectively attracted various aquatic insects for habitat and activity, further enhancing campus biodiversity and ecological richness.
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Co-Practicing Water Management with Stakeholders
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall "Cui Lake Water Quality Enhancement" Project (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Administrative Unit and Local Community Members
A research team from the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering assisted in monitoring the water quality of the Cui Lake park area, applying eco-engineering methods to improve water quality and preserve biodiversity. In January 2025, the team hosted the "Cui Lake Ecological Restoration Workshop," offering participants hands-on experience in the water. This initiative enabled attendees to acquire professional ecological knowledge while directly contributing to the lake’s water quality enhancement project, transforming Cui Lake into a shared resource actively co-maintained by the administrative unit and local residents.
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Regular Water Quality Testing: Includes routine monitoring of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and pH levels, both of which remain within optimal ranges. However, ammonia nitrogen (NH3) levels are slightly elevated, which may potentially impact aquatic fauna. Regular tracking and testing will continue as subsequent water quality improvement measures are rolled out.
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Initial Water Treatment Methods: Bio-based "water purifiers" (composed of magnesium hydroxide, which is harmless to humans, animals, and plants, with no adverse environmental impact) are deployed to remove benthic black sludge and odors while enhancing pH stability. Additionally, aeration equipment has been installed to promote lake water circulation, combining physical filtration to progressively elevate the water body's self-purification capacity.
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Continuous Monitoring & Maintenance: Water quality monitoring datasets are published regularly. Aeration facilities have been added to boost water circulation and dissolved oxygen levels. Furthermore, coconut fiber blankets and plant booms have been installed, planted with Poaceae species and Gymnocoronis spilanthoides for eco-landscaping, alongside native Taiwanese species such as Nuphar shimadae and Nymphoides hydrophylla. These efforts not only enhance biodiversity but also significantly increase the green coverage within the lake, stabilizing the aquatic environment and establishing a self-sustaining ecosystem.
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Water Environment Patrol Management and Capacity Building Project (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: River Patrol Teams across 15 Counties and Cities Nationwide (including Volunteers, Students, Faculty, and Government Agencies)
Since 2015, Professor Chih-Hao Fan and Professor Shu-Yuan Pan of the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, alongside Associate Professor Chi-Chang Liu of the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, have annually trained water environment patrol teams across 15 counties and cities in Taiwan to promote public participation in water conservation. Through training programs, experiential exchanges, and hands-on conservation work, the project enhances volunteers' environmental knowledge and technical skills, promotes river ecological monitoring technologies, and trains environmental education instructors and stream monitoring personnel. To date, over 9,000 volunteers have joined the patrol network.
These patrol teams are composed of local residents in each participating county and city, who monitor and protect their own neighbouring waterways. In 2025, a total of 32 training sessions, conferences, and field inspections were conducted, reaching 556 participant-times. Training topics included freshwater fish monitoring, river ecological surveys, patrol experience sharing, and the application of survey technologies.
Among them, Taipei City features a neighborhood community-based team, the Jiu-Ru Community Development Association Water Environment Patrol (39 members). New Taipei City features a school-based team, the Lujiaoxi Wetland Junior Water Environment Patrol (67 members), and a neighborhood community-based team, the Xindian Chong-Guang Community College Water Environment Patrol (33 members).
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Exploring Agricultural Water Governance with Rural-Urban Stakeholders via Nature-based Solutions (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Agricultural Water Resource Users in Taoyuan, Local Governments, and Local Residents
To strengthen cooperation and participation among diverse stakeholders in Taoyuan to jointly address climate change impacts on agricultural water resources, Professor Li-Pei Peng from the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering led an initiative to enhance local awareness and adaptive capacity regarding water resource management. From 2024 to 2025, workshops were conducted to introduce the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to local residents in Taoyuan. By integrating stakeholders' local knowledge with spatial information, the team constructed an agricultural water resource activity map and NbS-oriented policy scenarios.
Surveys revealed eight major categories of agricultural water resource activities in Taoyuan, covering production, recreation, education, religious practices, and governance. Among these, facility maintenance, production/marketing activities, and foraging/fishing/hunting were the most concentrated, reflecting a strong linkage between agricultural practices and eco-cultural dynamics in the Taoyuan region.
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2025 Workshop on Planning Methods and Practical Cases for Nature-based Solutions in Watersheds (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Government Officials from the Water Resources Agency (Taipei Office)
NTU assisted the Water Resources Agency in organizing a workshop on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in watersheds. The workshop introduced planning methodologies and practical case studies, enabling water resource policymakers to formulate more precise policies and reduce unnecessary watershed alteration.
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2025 Water Resource Survey in the Toushe Basin — Taiwan's Largest Peatland (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Community Residents of the Toushe Basin
The Toushe Basin, Taiwan's largest peatland, previously underwent rapid drainage installation to meet agricultural demands, which weakened its ecological service functions. To promote peatland and water resource management, NTU assisted the local community in monitoring and analyzing 72 observation sites covering surface water, water quality, hydrology, groundwater, and biodiversity to understand the impact of water resources on the peatland and establish local water retention strategies.
Furthermore, NTU helped establish a stakeholder communication platform to create a public participation model. Through promoting NbS concepts and assessing related ecological, environmental, and economic benefits, the initiative deepened local residents' understanding of peatland ecosystem services. Together, stakeholders proposed climate change adaptation strategies addressing land use, agro-ecological services, and natural watershed management, thereby minimizing environmental degradation in the watershed.This model exemplifies sustainable stewardship practices co-developed
between researchers and local residents.
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Joint Implementation of Aquatic Ecological Management with Stakeholders
2025 Planning Strategies for Ecosystem Services Payments for Concerned Species and Habitat in Kinmen National Park (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Kinmen National Park Administration, Local Residents, Farmers, and Landowners
Kinmen National Park is an island-type national park whose unique geographical location nurtures rich biodiversity and critical species habitats. Among these, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), an aquatic inhabitant, is classified as a Category 1 "Endangered" protected species under Taiwan’s Wildlife Conservation Act.
In 2025, Professor Tzung-Su Ding of the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation assisted Kinmen National Park in conducting surveys on species of concern, including the nocturnal roosting behaviors of cormorants and the habitat usage of Eurasian otters in aquatic environments. Based on these findings, locally feasible Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) strategies were implemented. By introducing tangible financial incentive mechanisms, the initiative encourages local community members to actively engage in protecting species of concern and critical habitats, ultimately building strong local consensus on conservation.
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Habitat Assessment and Ecological Restoration Indicators for Isolated Coastal Streams: A Case Study of Three Streams in Northeastern Taiwan (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Local Community Members and External University Research Teams
Isolated coastal streams serve as crucial ecological corridors linking forests, plains, and the ocean, providing essential ecosystem services to surrounding environments. Professor Pei-Fen Lee of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Professor Chi-Chang Liu of the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, in collaboration with researchers from other universities, evaluated environmental variations in isolated coastal streams characterized by small drainage areas that discharge directly into the sea, establishing health indicators for stream ecosystems. Partnering with local communities, the team advocated for optimized river restoration; removing bed-stabilization structures facilitated fish migration and expanded fish distribution. The team translated their research findings into educational materials and established an online hydrological and ecological platform to make analytical results publicly accessible—empowering local communities to leverage rich biodiversity for ecotourism.
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2025 Oceans Alive Project (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Corporate Organizations, Marine Education Centers of National Parks, Marine Educators, and Students
This project received the "Best in Community Service" honor at the 2025 Asian Media Awards.Assistant Professor Yu-Chi Wu from the NTU Institute of Fisheries Science collaborated with Business Today to promote marine sustainability education. The initiative established a seagrass conservation base to conduct seagrass seed cultivation and research within Dongsha Atoll National Park. Additionally, numerous marine sustainability education courses were organized to advocate the importance of marine biodiversity, seagrass, and blue carbon, thereby elevating public awareness of marine conservation.
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Aquatic Fauna and Water Quality Relationship Monitoring in Feitsui Reservoir (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Reservoir Management Authorities
Professor Yu-San Han of the Institute of Fisheries Science assists the Feitsui Reservoir Administration in surveying aquatic fauna and monitoring water quality. Nine sampling stations were established within the reservoir to monitor water quality parameters including water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. In 2025, four aquatic fauna surveys were conducted to evaluate species composition, abundance, biomass, population dynamics, spatial distribution, and feeding habits of dominant aquatic species. Results were compared against historical baseline data (spanning at least 10 years), and heavy metal analyses were conducted on the flesh of dominant fish species. These monitoring datasets provide insights into the reservoir's ecosystem health, enabling timely reporting to management authorities whenever anomalies arise to prevent severe water quality and ecological degradation.
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2025 Te-Chi Reservoir Water Quality and Algae Monitoring Project (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Reservoir Management Authorities
A research team from the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering assisted the Te-Chi Reservoir in conducting water quality and algae monitoring across 32 monitoring stations. Key parameters evaluated include suspended solids, chemical composition, pH, and temperature. This project ensures water source quality and safeguards the natural ecosystem. Furthermore, all monitoring data are published on a publicly accessible website, serving as an open reference for both the general public and reservoir management authorities.
Through water quality data monitoring, the research team identified non-point source pollution issues within the reservoir area. Consequently, they executed pollution reduction actions in demonstration sites and provided reservoir authorities with Best Management Practices (BMPs) for watershed management.
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Baseline Survey and Long-Term Monitoring Management for the Ecological Reserve of Dream Lake National Park (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: National Park Management Office
Dream Lake National Important Wetland is the sole natural habitat of Taiwan‘s endemic plant, Isoetes taiwanensis (a perennial aquatic herb that can grow submerged, emergent, or terrestrial, classified as Critically Endangered, CR by the IUCN). To develop suitable conservation and management strategies for Isoetes taiwanensis, Professor Shang-Shu Shih of NTU's Hydrotech Research Institute assists the national park in conducting long-term ecological surveys and habitat monitoring. The collected data will serve as a reference for wetland management.
This long-term monitoring enables early detection of ecological health changes and informs adaptive management of the wetland.
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2025 Groundwater Monitoring and Key Species Selection/Artificial Propagation for Coral Reef Ecosystems on Dongsha Island (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: National Park Management Office
Water resources constitute a critical management topic for Dongsha Atoll National Park. Under the core development goals of promoting marine scientific research and marine environmental experiences, securing a safe and adequate freshwater supply is a fundamental necessity. A research team from NTU's Marine Center assists the Dongsha Atoll in monitoring its groundwater and marine water resources, ensuring that its unique and highly environmentally sensitive ecosystem remains protected from external factors.
Furthermore, the waters surrounding the Dongsha Atoll possess world-class coral reef ecological resources. Given the distinctiveness and vulnerability of coral reef ecosystems, Professor Yu-Chi Wu from the Institute of Fisheries Science targeted coral reef organisms within the national park boundaries. In collaboration with the management office, the team selected at least two species for artificial propagation technology research and development, cultivating them until they completed larval metamorphosis. Based on these findings, effective conservation and management strategies were formulated to ensure the long-term sustainability of Dongsha Atoll's marine ecosystem.
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Vegetation Restoration and Hydraulic Impact Assessment for Taipei Rivers (Ongoing)
Stakeholders: Local Government Authorities
A research team from NTU's Hydrotech Research Institute conducted plant surveys and hydrological analyses across three rivers in the Taipei area. By building numerical models, the team simulated aquatic plant growth patterns under various environmental scenarios. The results served to review the "Regulations Governing Planting in River Zones" and related river vegetation management norms in Taipei City. Ultimately, the team compiled the Taipei City River Vegetation Hydraulics and Management Reference Handbook as a comprehensive guideline for future watershed management.
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