濕地零淨損失與生態功能規範內容之法制比較分析

Comparative Analysis on the Contents of Wetland “No Net Loss” and Ecology Function Regulations Among Regimes

濕地本身的地質特殊，因為含水的土壤提供更多樣的環境要素，除了涵養水源之外也提供了更多樣的棲地種類給各種不同的動、植物繁衍、生存。同時提供更多的生物資源給人類利用，甚至因此形成人居的部落或社會，造就出不同的文化。然而因人口快速增加，對於土地、空間的需求越來越大，變更土地原本的利用方式並轉為生產糧食、居住或是娛樂的目的，成為濕地面積與生態消失、減少的主要原因之一。加上近年來因全球暖化造成極端氣候事件發生的頻率與強度增加，對現存的濕地及其生態造成更大的壓力。有鑑於此，國際間紛紛呼籲各國應該重視濕地的保育與保存，不僅可以保持濕地此一資源，也可以維持濕地上面的生物多樣性，更可以保持人類與濕地資源之間的互動關係與文化。

In the Wetland Conservation Act, Taiwan adopted the updated concepts and measures of “no net loss” and “mitigation compensation” for further protection of wetland resources. The Act mandates every wetland management measure and use of wetland resources to achieve the target of “no net loss.” This article presents a comparative legal analysis of the meaning of the term “no net loss” as used in the laws of Taiwan, the United States, and the European Union as well as in the Ramsar Convention. A critical finding of this study is that the responsible agency in Taiwan has not yet confirmed the target of the “no net loss” policy. Without properly defining wetland ecology or the methodologies or standards for investigating wetland ecology function and ecology recovery, the responsible agency is unable to apply a single unified standard to decide whether particular mitigation compensation measures should be implemented and installed by developers. Therefore, this article proposes that the responsible agency must confirm and announce its adoption of the “no net loss” target as soon as practicable. Second, the Act must be revised to properly define wetland ecology and ecology function. Additionally, the responsible agency should adopt more regulations or enforcement rules for investigating wetland ecology. Doing so may help improve the government's understanding of Taiwan's overall wetland ecology, which may enable it to exercise proper control over development activities. The expected outcome of implementing the article's recommendations is heightened protection of wetland resources in Taiwan.