International Firefly Symposium set for Taipei

2014-10-08

Taipei City is set to host its first International Firefly Symposium in 2017, underscoring the effectiveness of a local private sector program in raising awareness of local conservation efforts for the insects.

The decision, which was made during the triennial symposium held Aug. 11-15 in the U.S., followed a presentation on Wenshan District restoration project. Commencing October 2012, the undertaking is unique in that it focuses on urban habitat restoration.

Program leader Wu Chia-hsiung, also an ecology professor at National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, said hosting the symposium is a success for Taiwan’s firefly research and conservation efforts. “It also recognizes the contributions of the many leading lights like National Taiwan University entomology professors Chang Wen-liang and Yang Ping-shih.”

The undertaking involves protecting fireflies at a 3.5-hectare plot adjacent to a planned construction project at Yongjian Elementary School. Various measures were employed such as planting adult trees to shield fireflies from urban light pollution, establishing a 300-meter grassed waterway, building four ecological ponds and developing a noninvasive LED red light torch.

According to Wu, the program has seen firefly species increase from three to six, with total insect numbers rising from a dozen to more than 100. The number of other insect species has also grown from 102 to 318, he said.

“We will continue cultivating this precious habitat and look forward to further sharing Taiwan’s firefly habitat protection efforts with the international community.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=222607&CtNode=413)