NTU's Collaboration with Local Communities on Shared Aquatic Ecosystems (2025)
National Taiwan University collaborates directly with local and Indigenous communities across Taiwan to jointly maintain, restore, and co-manage shared aquatic ecosystems—from campus waterways to wetlands, coastal areas, and mountain streams.
NTU Campus Blue Ribbon Plan
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 By collecting local historical records of the Liu-Gong Canal (including historical documents and oral histories from local residents), the university discovered that the canal once flowed through the campus.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.
Collaborating with Communities to Preserve Aquatic Ecosystems
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall "Cui Lake Water Quality Enhancement" Project
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
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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Habitat Assessment and Ecological Restoration Indicators for Isolated Coastal Streams: A Case Study of Three Streams in Northeastern Taiwan
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 Formosan Striped Dace (Squalidus iijimae) Conservation Plan
Stakeholders: Taipei Zoo and Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA).
Status: Taiwan Red List of Species: Nationally Critical (NCR) Associate Professor Chi-Chang Liu of NTU's School of Forestry and Resource Conservation participated in the editorial team for the second edition of the Formosan Striped Dace Conservation Action Plan, published by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (MOA) in 2025. The plan covers conservation status, biological profiles, spatial distribution, breeding and life history, dietary habits, competitors, predators, habitat requirements, and threat analyses, while establishing monitoring frameworks to safeguard critical habitats and stabilize population distribution. In 2025, Associate Professor Liu also partnered with the Taipei Zoo to conduct artificial propagation of the species and launch environmental education outreach campaigns to enhance public awareness of protected freshwater aquatic species.
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2024–2025 Ecological and Water Quality Survey of the Shuanglianpi Important Wetland (National Level)
Stakeholders: Local Community Members and Shuanglianpi Administrative Units
Shuanglianpi is a National Important Wetland and Wildlife Refuge renowned for its rich flora and fauna, including numerous rare species endemic to Taiwan. Its most distinctive feature is Taiwan's only "natural floating island" (a moving vegetated mat)—formed by emergent plants and accumulated humus layer. The unique aquatic habitat beneath the floating island creates diverse biological micro-habitats and provides water purification functions.
From 2024 to 2025, NTU's Hydrotech Research Institute assisted Shuanglianpi Wetland in conducting ecological surveys (covering birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and flora) and water quality monitoring, while contributing to wetland restoration efforts. Concurrently, the team collaborated with local community members on environmental education capacity-building programs, enabling residents to actively engage in maintaining the aquatic ecosystem.
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2025 Water Resource Survey in the Toushe Basin — Taiwan's Largest Peatland
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.
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2025 Planning Strategies for Ecosystem Services Payments for Concerned Species and Habitat in Kinmen National Park
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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2025 Ecological Checks for Wild Creeks through Community Resource Integration
Stakeholders: Local Community Members and Hualien County Government
A research team from NTU's Hydrotech Research Institute partnered with the Hualien County Government and local community members to conduct ecological checks on two wild creeks in Hualien. This initiative integrated public participation, ecological data collection, watershed spatial analysis, and engineering assessments, incorporating core ecological mitigation strategies: Avoidance, Minimization, Mitigation, and Compensation. The team executed approximately 29 ecological check projects, organized 3 training sessions on ecological checking for residents, and hosted 1 eco-friendly concept awareness course. Additionally, 2 consultation meetings and 1 collaborative learning and capacity-building workshop were held to gather local input. By building local capacity for ecological checking and installing eco-friendly facilities—such as fishways, shelter structures, and wildlife crossings—the project fosters a shared commitment to local ecological conservation.
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2025 Promotion Activities for Coastal Landscape Features in the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Region
Stakeholders: Community Residents, Local Volunteers, and Geopark Docents
NTU's Department of Geography collaborated with local partners along the Southwest Coast National Scenic Area (Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan) to launch coastal micro-tours for community residents, local volunteers, and geopark docents. The itinerary included introductions to coastal landscapes, sustainable actions for beach nourishment and ecological restoration, guided tours and hands-on experiences at salt pans, and field visits to the Aogu Wetland. These activities enhanced local awareness of surrounding ecological resources, empowering residents to jointly safeguard coastal environments.
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Indigenous Co-Management of Wetland Natural Resources
Stakeholders: Local Indigenous Community Groups
Over a three-year period, a research team from NTU's Hydrotech Research Institute partnered with local Indigenous community groups to establish an Indigenous co-management mechanism for wetland natural resources through community capacity building, workshops, and hands-on training. The team simplified techniques, reagents, and instruments for hydrological flow measurements, water quality monitoring, and landscape interpretation to facilitate active participation by Indigenous partners. By integrating local traditional culture with modern scientific technology, the initiative constructed a co-management framework for disaster prevention, ecological resources, and diversified renewable energy tailored specifically for Indigenous communities.
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Marine Animal Rescue Network (MARN)
Stakeholders: Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA), National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium (NMMBA), National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS), Local Governments, External University Research Teams, Coast Guard Administration (CGA), Taiwan Cetacean Society, and Non-Governmental Organizations.
The School of Veterinary Medicine at NTU serves as a key member of MARN, responsible for forensic analysis, sample custody, and pathological autopsies to strengthen Taiwan’s rescue mechanisms and conservation framework for protected marine species. Comprising the Coast Guard Administration, local municipal governments, research institutions, and NGOs, the alliance operates under the 4R Principles—Research, Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release—to establish standardized operational procedures for wildlife rescue.
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Taiwan Cetacean Observer System
Stakeholders: Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) of the Ocean Affairs Council, Coast Guard Administration (CGA), Civil Society Organizations, Offshore Wind Power Developers, Taiwan Cetacean Observers (TCOs), Coastal communities and the General Public.
Driven by the growing demand for marine resource utilization, offshore engineering developments and underwater exploration activities have surged worldwide. Offshore construction activities—such as pile driving, drilling, underwater blasting, seismic surveying, and sonar deployment—generate noise that, without appropriate mitigation measures, can severely impact marine life, ranging from behavioral alterations to physiological injury or mortality.
To prevent anthropogenic noise from impacting marine ecosystems, deploying Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) is an internationally recognized mitigation practice. In 2025, Professor Wei-Cheng Yang of NTU's Department of Veterinary Medicine assisted the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) in publishing the fourth edition of the Taiwan Cetacean Observer System Operational Manual.Many Taiwan Cetacean Observers are recruited from coastal fishing communities near offshore wind farm sites, integrating local knowledge into marine mammal protection efforts.
By conducting real-time site monitoring and early warnings, as well as recommending mitigation measures to developers, the system prevents marine life from entering high-impact noise zones. This manual reinforces cetacean conservation protocols during offshore wind farm construction, clarifies observer system operations, and formally integrates Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) mechanisms.
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