Flora & Fauna

(Updating section, thanks for your patience!!)

Flora

     With its subtropical climate, Taiwan is covered with lush vegetation. Because of Taiwan's location, plant species are diverse and abundant. The high altitude of the island's mountains provides climatic and vegetation zones ranging from subtropical to alpine. Except for the western coastal plain and the Penghu Islands, Taiwan was once entirely covered by forests. The forested area today is estimated at 1.9 million hectares.

     Acacia trees are ubiquitous on lower hills. Bamboo groves and forests are found naturally in central and northern Taiwan, whereas in the south, most stands of bamboo are cultivated on farms. Outside of forests, bamboo is normally confined to relatively moist areas; thus, it can be cultivated almost anywhere in the Taiwan area.

     The flora of Taiwan resembles that of the Chinese mainland. A wide range of Asian subtropical species are found in the lowlands, and low altitude flora is closely related to that of the southern Chinese provinces. Mountain flora is related to that of western China, and high alpine flora to that of the Himalayan region.

     Soils vary in fertility. Many have lost their natural fertility after centuries of irrigation and heavy rainfall. In the north, the soils of arable land are primarily acid alluvials and latosols of diluvial, some of which are residuals. In the southwest, where agricultural production is concentrated, most of the arable soils are alluvials of neutral to weak alkalinity and planosol-like alluvials. Upland soils of mountainous areas are mostly lithosols, which are usually thin and infertile.

Fauna