An Outing: Matai'an Wetland

#2025-0421

Earlier this morning, we considered visiting Dà Nóng Dà Fù Forest Park (大農大富平地森林園區) in Guangfu or the Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park (林田山林業文化園區) in Fenglin. However, since both are closed on Mondays, we decided instead to explore the Matai'an Wetland (馬太鞍濕地).

The Matai'an Wetland Ecological Park (馬太鞍濕地生態園區), located at the foot of Mount Maxi in Guangfu, Hualien County, spans about 12 hectares. This natural marshland has long served as the traditional fishing and farming ground of the Amis Fata’an (or Vata’an) tribe (阿美族馬太鞍部落). Today, it remains a lightly developed green space that preserves a lifestyle of living in harmony with nature.

The name Matai’an (vataan) is the Amis word for the tree pea (樹豆), a crop that once grew abundantly in this area. The wetland not only retains its natural beauty but also reflects the deep cultural connection between the land and the indigenous community.

One fascinating feature of the region is the traditional Palakaw fishing method. Using hollow bamboo and tree branches, the Amis people build a three-layered structure submerged in ponds. These structures provide a resting place for aquatic life: small fish come and go freely, while shrimp and bottom-dwelling species such as eels, loaches, or swamp eels are gradually lured in. After some time, fishers lift out the branches—often from the Taiwan crepe myrtle tree (九芎)—to shake off the shrimp caught among them into triangular nets. Larger fish can be collected from the bamboo tubes on the lower level. This method reflects the community’s deep ecological knowledge and their principle of sustainable harvesting: taking only what is needed, and never exhausting the source.

As we walked through the wetland trails, the air was fresh with the scent of damp soil and reeds. Dragonflies flitted above the water, and the quiet rustle of leaves in the breeze made the whole place feel calm and untouched. It was a peaceful reminder of how gentle nature can be when left undisturbed.

Below are some photos I took during our visit to the park.

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附錄：

馬太鞍濕地生態園區位於花蓮縣光復鄉馬錫山腳下，面積大約12公頃，是一處天然沼澤濕地，此處也是阿美族馬太鞍部落世代漁耕之地，現今此地仍是低度開發的荒綠田疇，一直保留著與自然和諧共處的生活文化。「馬太鞍」(vataan) 是阿美族部落稱呼樹豆的名稱，因為早期此地遍植樹豆，故以此命名。

馬太鞍是阿美族人的傳統生活區域，居住在此的阿美族人，發展出「Palakaw」巴拉告生態捕魚法，利用中空的竹子、樹枝等，製作出三層的結構物放入水塘中，讓魚蝦喜歡、小魚能自由出入的棲息地，經過一段時間後，將九芎枝幹提出水面，即可將攀附在樹枝間的小蝦抖入三角魚網中；而藏放在底層的大竹筒能輕鬆捕獲鱔魚、土虱或鰻魚等底棲性魚類。他們堅守不竭澤而漁的原則，讓人感受到阿美族人的生活智慧。

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相關文章 (See also)：

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2)  明潭之旅 + 車埕探秘     (2025)

3)  佐倉步道 (Tso Tsang Trail)     (2025)

4)  再遊 "九族文化村" (Part One)     (2025)