Since its establishment, Taijiang National Park has focused on preserving the wetland biodiversity. In 2019, the park launched an Eco-Friendly Habitat Creation Project, integrating sustainable wetland use to balance ecological conservation with economic development. This effort has helped sustain the cultural landscape of "harmony between humans and nature" in the Taijiang region.
Taijiang National Park encompasses four key wetlands, including the internationally recognized Zengwen Estuary Wetland, Sicao Wetland, and the nationally recognized Qigu Salt Fields Wetland and Yanshui Estuary Wetland. These areas not only support diverse flora and fauna but also serve as critical habitats for rare bird species like the Black-faced Spoonbill. Notably, a section of the Zengwen Estuary Wetland is designated as the Shifen Black-faced Spoonbill Ecological Reserve.
The population of Black-faced Spoonbills has been steadily increasing thanks to concerted conservation efforts. However, the year-round intensive aquaculture practices pose challenges to the birds' winter feeding. To address this, Taijiang National Park has collaborated with private fish farms outside the park to support Black-faced Spoonbill conservation. Since 2011, eco-friendly fish farming trials have been conducted, introducing milkfish cans under the "Black-faced Spoonbill Brand" to develop conservation strategies that local fishers would support.
After years of trials, the park officially launched the Eco-Friendly Habitat Creation Project in 2019. By working with local fishers, the park encourages practices such as lowering water levels, refraining from driving away birds, avoiding fine nets, and leaving small fish after harvesting during the migratory bird wintering season. In return, fishers are granted the right to use the "Black-faced Spoonbill Brand" trademark on their products, receive recognition, or earn ecological rewards, creating a win-win for both the industry and the environment.
In 2020, the project began as a trial with just three fishers offering 10.8 hectares of fish ponds. Since then, the concept of eco-friendly habitat creation has gained broader acceptance. According to Shang-Chin Yang, a conservation researcher at the Taijiang National Park Administration, the number of applications has increased to 42 fishers in 2024, with over 258 hectares of fish ponds now participating in the initiative.
The Zengwen Estuary Wetland provides vital feeding grounds for birds like the Black-faced Spoonbill and has been a traditional harvesting site for local shellfishers. To sustain the livelihoods of Qigu fishers, Taijiang National Park permits the manual collection of three key shellfish species—Meretrix lusoria, Cyclina sinensis and Solen strictus—during the non-wintering season.
Taijiang National Park continues to monitor the quality of the wetland environment and conduct ecological surveys in collaboration with research teams. They also maintain ongoing communication with local fishers, making adaptive adjustments to fishing areas within the protected zones. Since 2020, the park has implemented a strategy of alternating north and south zones for shellfish harvesting, ensuring the sustainable use of resources while enhancing wetland substrate health. This approach exemplifies the wise use of wetlands.