Hands that build the "Great Green Wall" / 築起綠色長城的雙手
Hands that build the "Great Green Wall"
Text by Joanna Photos by Jung-Hui Pao
To create a complete and abundant ecosystem, the Kaohsiung City Government has considered the ecological elements of the city in its planning and development. The plan is to connect the parks, green fields, and ecologically protected areas. The plan includes the following areas: northern Kaohsiung to Nanzih Yuanjhong Harbor Wetland, Banping Mountain, Jhouzih Wetland, Benhe Village Retention Pond, and Neiweipi Natural Park to name just a few. Banping Mountain, Turtle Mountain, Chai Mountain, Botanical Garden, Neiweipi Natural Park, and the parks along Love River are showing the fruits of the above mentioned ecological plan. This provides greater areas for birds and insects to fly and live in safety.
There is a group of volunteers working diligently behind the construction of this "Great Green Wall"; namely the Takao Hill Association, the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society (KWBS), Wetland Taiwan, and the Love River Association for Culture and Ecology.
-◆- Takao Hill Association
Takao Hill Association was established in 1992 with the aim of protecting and maintaining Chai Mountain. All members share the common desire of breathing fresher air, and living a higher quality of life. For years, with the cooperation of mountain climbers, the Takao Hill Association has been observing the ecology of Chai Mountain and working towards preserving the natural look of the mountain. Besides that, they also work on integrating the concepts of ecology with urban planning, which not only revolves around further construction, but also revolves around avoiding destruction of the natural environment during development.
May 2005 saw the passing of the fifth "Chai Mountain Festival", which ran for one month. The festival included art performances, a guided tour of Chai Mountain, and sketching and painting activities; all with the intention of attracting more people to participate in the preservation and maintenance of Chai Mountain. The Takao Hill Association is going to expand its mission to include protection and preservation of forests throughout Taiwan as well as the development of better water resources.
-◆- Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society
Since the establishment of the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society (KWBS) in 1979, many bird lovers and professors have been enjoying sharing with one another what they have learnt about birds. The work of KWBS includes encouraging bird watching, spreading ecological information, providing ecological training courses, and researching plants and insects.
KWBS has been effectively managing and protecting the wetlands of Kaohsiung. KWBS is now concentrating on "Niaosong Wetland" and the "Man made wetland, which if located near the "Old Bridge over Gaoping River". The work of KWBS volunteers in cooperation with local citizens is helping to create more suitable wetlands for fish, birds and insects.
Recently, KWBS has been conducting what they call "Ecology Spots" in order to appeal to the community. The main activities held by KWBS include, ecology speeches, training of the ecology tour guides, ecology excursions, and rotating shifts of guided tours around the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Chai Mountian, Niaosong, Yongan, and Jiading Township on Sundays. "Ecology Season" is also a tradition of KWBS: this September and October, KWBS accepted the request of the Bureau of Redevelopment to complete the training tour guides of the "Chai Mountain Ecological Natural Park".
-◆- Love River Association of Culture and Ecology
The "Love River Association of Culture and Ecology" was established in 1994, working with locals on attending to Love River, its scenery, and ecological development. Since recently improving the water quality of Love River, the association is now researching the history of Love River in order to raise community awareness.
Through the work of the "Love River Association of Culture and Ecology", citizens become more aware of this beautiful Kaohsiung landmark. Besides, the association is also encouraging the study of Love River in schools, thus generating awareness amongst the younger generations.
-◆- Wetland Taiwan, Kaohsiung Branch
Wetland Taiwan, which has been officially registered for 10 years, works on protecting the ecology of wetlands in Taiwan. It consists of the study of ecology, adopting progressive activities for environmental protection, and coordinating organizational efforts. In 2003, Wetland Taiwan planed the "Pheasant-tailed Jacana Project", which has increased the numbers of Pheasant-tailed Jacana in the Jhouzih Wetland Park.
The main project of the Kaohsiung branch of Wetland Taiwan is to protect and manage "Jhouzih Wetland Park" in Zouying, as well as to train volunteers to manage the park or to become tour guides. There are about 104 different types of birds congregating at the "Zouying Jhouzih Wetland Park" as well as an abundance of plants, insects, and fish. Starting in 2006, there will be tours of the wetland to allow citizens to experience it first-hand: the tours will be held on the second Saturday of each month.
築起綠色長城的雙手 文／葛蔓 攝影／鮑忠暉 為了營造完整而豐富的生態，高雄市政府在都市規劃時引入「生態廊道」概念，計畫將公園、綠地、生態保護復育區串連，這一條北從楠梓援中港濕地、半屏山沈沙地、蓮池潭旁洲仔濕地，延伸至本和里滯洪池、美術館內惟埤...等，再加上半屏山、龜山、柴山、原生植物園、內惟埤公園、愛河沿岸公園，生態廊道的規模更趨完備，增加了鳥類及昆蟲的活動範圍，讓他們自在地在各生態區遷移。這一條綠色長城的形成，背後有一大群熱情志工默默地奉獻，如：高雄柴山會、高雄鳥會、洲仔濕地聯盟、文化愛河協會...等民間組織，共同為打造一個美麗且優質的城市而努力。 -◇- 高雄市柴山會
成立於1992年的「高雄市柴山會」(柴山會)，號召每位渴望呼吸更新鮮空氣，並追求生活品質的朋友們，一起加入柴山保育的活動。多年來，在山友們的通力合作下，密切地監測與觀察柴山生態，致力於保存柴山自然樣貌，此外，也積極推動位於柴山下的社區人文與歷史保存及推廣，最重要的是希望能將生態融入都市計劃之的關念，在開發新建設時能避免干擾破壞當地動植物生態，甚至更進一步地將自然生態的多樣性融入於設計考量之中。 今年5月，邁入第5年的柴山嘉年華「柴山祭」盛大展開，這場為期1個月的慶典，藉由藝術表演、柴山定點和動線解說、寫生活動、社區嘉年華等各種生動的方式，吸引民眾加入關懷高雄地區柴山生態的行列；柴山會更將觸角擴大至台灣山林保育、水資源永續發展等相關議題。 -◇- 社團法人高雄市野鳥學會
「社團法人高雄市野鳥學會」（高雄鳥會）自1979年成立以來，許多資深鳥友與專家學者熱心地分享所學，研究的範疇從賞鳥的推廣、生態資訊的傳達以及相關培訓課程，一直延伸到植物、昆蟲的研究，更鼓勵每個人將求知的觸角無限延伸。 高雄鳥會在濕地認養與經營管理方面的成績受各界肯定；目前主要著力於「鳥松濕地」以及「高屏溪舊鐵橋人工濕地」第二期，除了仰賴鳥會的義工，也動員當地的民眾，一起為打造更適合魚、鳥、昆蟲的濕地努力。 近年來，高雄鳥會積極推動「生態聚點」的方式，落實走入社區的目標。鳥會主要的活動包括：安排生態演講、培訓生態解說營、生態遠足，以及每週日輪流於高美館、柴山、鳥松、永安、茄定等各地的導覽。而每年舉辦大規模的生態季更成為鳥會的傳統，今年9月、10月更接受市政府建設局的委託，完成「柴山自然公園生態」解說員培訓工作。 -◇- 文化愛河協會
成立於1994年的「文化愛河協會」，結合民間人士，投入愛河河川保育、地景及生態改善等工作，達成愛河水質改善目標之後，目前積極推動愛河人文歷史的調查與研究，建立社區意識。 透過「文化愛河協會」解說員的解說活動，以愛河走河的文史導覽，讓疏遠愛河的民眾重新再親近愛河，此外，也走入學校，從社團鄉土教育推廣課程，讓民眾能深入認識愛河，發現愛河多元的人文風貌。 -◇- 社區法人台灣濕地保護聯盟高雄分會
成立迄今已有10年的台灣濕地保護聯盟，致力於台灣濕地與生態之保護，推動認養濕地及其經營管理。2003年因推動「水稚復育返鄉」計劃成功，讓水雉的芳蹤再現洲仔濕地，因此榮獲「2003年福特環保獎」首獎的肯定。 「台灣濕地保護聯盟」高雄分會的工作重點為經營管理「左營洲仔濕地」，此外，培訓棲地經營以及導覽解說的志工人才。「左營洲仔濕地」聚集約104種鳥類，成功營造適合動植物、魚類在內多樣化的生態。2006年起，每個月第2個星期六會採「實作兼探訪」的方式，讓高雄市民親身感受在濕地的感覺，並安排導覽行程。 |
★ Takao Hill Association 高雄市柴山會
Tel：07-2815348
Address：10th Floor - 3, No. 398, Cihsien 2nd Rd, Cianjin District, Kaohsiung City.
高雄市前金區七賢二路398號10樓之3
Website：http://home.kimo.com.tw/tha-home/
★ Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society 高雄市野鳥學會
Tel：07-2361086
Address：12th Floor, No. 189, Linsen 1st Rd, Sinsing District, Kaohsiung City
高雄市新興區林森一路189號12樓
Website：http://www.kwbs.org.tw
★ Love River Association of Culture and Ecology 文化愛河協會
Tel： 07-2247612
Address：7th Floor, No. 89 Chungcheng 2nd Rd, Kaohsiung City
高雄市中正二路89號7樓
Website：http://www.wetland.org.tw/subject/water/water_3_1/water_3_1.htm
★ Wetland Taiwan, Kaohsiung Branch 濕地保護聯盟高雄分會
Tel：07-5822371
Website：http://www.wetland.org.tw/newweb/