The United Nations General Assembly named 2015 the International Year of Soils. Besides highlighting the importance of soils in human life, the UN also hoped to encourage conservation of soil resources in order to ensure future food security and mitigate global warming. Of the 12 soil orders defined by the soil taxonomy of the US Department of Agriculture, Taiwan, located at the edge of the Eurasian tectonic plate, has 11. These include Andisols (formed from volcanic ash), Spodosols (formed under high-mountain coniferous forest), Mollisols (highly fertile soils formed in grassland environments), and Alfisols (alluvial soils). It is no exaggeration to say that Taiwan is a world-class “museum of soil.”
Complementing this rare profusion of soil formation processes on land, with immature, mature and aged soils, Taiwan’s 1,600 kilometers of coastline offers habitats that include coral reefs, river estuaries, mangrove forests, and lagoons, created by different topographies, ocean currents, and water temperatures. Some 10% of the world’s fish species can be found in the waters around Taiwan, making our island a classic “biodiversity kingdom.” Taiwan’s richly varied terrain and climatic conditions, and its remarkable biodiversity, have prompted ecologists to call it a “Noah’s Ark” for the survival of the world’s biological species.
The 21st century is the century of global biodiversity conservation, including conservation of genetic diversity and of species diversity, both of which Taiwan possesses in abundance. This is the focus of the Cover Story this month. After an initial overview, the remaining four articles explore the diversity of life on this island from the perspectives of soils, butterflies, orchids, and marine life, including:
- Taiwan’s Natural Treasures: Getting Citizens Involved in Preserving Biodiversity
http://psce.pw/4fa5r6 - Taiwan: A Global Museum of Soil
http://psce.pw/4frenv - On Rainbow Wings: Butterfly Diversity and Conservation
http://psce.pw/4elfmd - Blooming Around the World: Taiwan’s Moth Orchids
http://psce.pw/4fu79m - Learning Lessons From the Sea: The Race to Protect Our Marine Biodiversity
http://psce.pw/4fguaf
Taiwan Panorama also hosts columns of “Photo Essay,” “Global Outlook,” “Around Taiwan,” “Cultural Trends” and “Comunities” that provides fun and interesting contents, please enjoy: http://psce.pw/4fs245
