Place: Hong-Mao-Gan, Sin-Fong Hsin-Chu  

Interviewee: Mr. Yuan-shuei Liou,

Guide of Sin-Fong City Government, Hsin-Chu County.

Q1: Was there anything special about Hong-Mao-Gan？
A1：Hong-Mao-Gan may look just like a forest by the river, but in fact, it is also of rich biological resources and it carries on the integrity food chain. Here in Hong-Maio-Kang, you can see the jumping mudskippers, the hatching small fish in mud bank, the heron bird groups that are attracted by food, All these provide a good source for local environmental education They can go sightseeing, resting, and enjoying bird watching as well as the river mouth ecosystem. Hong-Mao-Gan is also known for possessing two kinds of plants that mix and grow together!

Q2：We knew that Kandelia candel Druce and Avicennia marina are the main plants in freshwater mangrove, but in Sin-Fong Hsin-Chu, where do they grow?
A2：We can see Kandelia candel Druce and Avicennia marina, two kinds of mangrove plants, in the Sin-Fong area near the Hong-Mao-Gan. We can find numerous Kandelia candel Druce near the Red Iron Bridge, and the Avicennia marina can be found near the river mouth. The south Bank of the Hong-Mao-Gan is more equipped for tourist, as there are pavilions and sightseeing routes created by the county government.

Q3： Except for Kandelia candel Druce and Avicennia marina, what other plants can we see in Hong-Mao-Gan？
A3：There are some marshy lands surrounding the Sin-Fong river mouth we can find Spinifex Litteoreus, Hibiscus tiliaceus and beefwoods.

Q4：What different animals can be found in Hong-Mao-Gan?
A4：We can find Helice formosensis and Perisesarma bidens, on the base of mangrove roots. Outside the mangrove we can find many Uca lacteal and Uca arcuata. On the beach we can find Ocypale stimpsoni. We can also find mudskippers. The beauty of Hong-Mao-Gan is that it is well set up for the tourists, with excellent route design. Although signboards have been setup, but there are not enough details on it. Therefore we can often find parents catching crabs for their kids. From this we can see that our ecological education must be done more thoroughly.
 

Q5：In the eyes of an ecologist, would you say that the wetland of Hong-Mao-Gan is endangered?
A5：Wetlands are more or less affected with rapid industrialization. The biggest problem of Hong-Mao-Gan is that apart from the dumping of garbage and mud, the faeces from the duck farm inside the windbreak cause water pollution. These are main killers of our environment. The original tour routes designed inside the mangrove are big mistakes. The Avicennia marina dies because of them. The concrete bridge piers are also major mistakes. They destruct the water from free flowing. All these speed up the destruction of the mangrove . Although the intentions were good, but the design of the tourist routes should have consulted the experts, alterations should be made instantly to prevent further damages to the ecosystem.