Our Story
Our story
In 1992, recognizing a growing local and international urgency for conservation, Taiwan established the Endemic Species Research Institute (TESRI). This move was in line with the global push for nature conservation and mirrored the burgeoning awareness within the country. In 1999, as part of the downsizing and reorganization of the Taiwan Provincial Government, ESRI was reassigned to fall under the jurisdiction of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan).
Introduction


DirectorJia-Dong YangDirector, Biodiversity Research Institute, MOAEducation :National Chung Hsing University, Department of Forestry, BachelorNational Taiwan University, Graduated School of Forestry, MasterTunghai Universuty, Department of Life Science, PhDProfessional ExperienceResearch Assistant, 1995-1997Assistant Researcher, 1997-2003Associate Researcher, 2003-2007Associate Researcher and Division Chief, 2007-2010Research Fellow and Chief Secretary, 2010-2017Director, Endemic Species Research Institute, COA, 2017-2023Scientific SocietiesMember of the Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor SocietyMember of the Bryological Society of TaiwanMember of the Chinese Forestry AssociationResearch InterestsTaxonomy and ecology of Bryophytes.Publications (Selected)Yang , J .- D . 2009. Liverworts and Hornworts of Taiwan I . Lejeuneaceae . Endemic Species Research Institute , Nantou , Taiwan . 144 pp .Yang , J .- D . 2011. Liverworts and Hornworts of Taiwan II. Endemic Species Research Institute, Nantou, Taiwan. 120 pp.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2008. Lejeunea bidentula Herz. as a Newly Recorded Liverwort to Taiwan. Endemic Species Research. 10(2): 65-69.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2008. Leptolejeunea picta Herz., a Liverwort New to Taiwan. Taiwania 53(3): 308-310.Yang, J.- D. and S.-H. Lin. 2008. Cheilolejeunea falsinervis (Marchantiophyta) newly recorded for Taiwan. Bryological Research 9(10):319-321.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2009. Calypogeia aeruginosa Mitten, a Newly Recorded Liverwort to Taiwan. Endemic Species Research 11(2):93-99Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2009. Lejeunea sordida (Nees) Nees, a Liverwort New to Taiwan. Bryological Research 9(12):388-390.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2011. Pycnolejeunea grandiocellata Steph. (Family Lejeuneaceae), a Generic and Species Record New to Liverwort Flora of Taiwan. Taiwania 56(2): 165-168.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2012. Two Species of Drepanolejeunea (Family Lejeuneaceae) Newly Recorded to Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity. 14 (1-2): 63-73.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2012. Two Species of Cheilolejeunea (Family Lejeuneaceae) Newly Recorded to Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity. 14 (3-4):63-73.Ellis, L.T., H. Bednarek-Ochyra, R. Ochyra, M. J. Benjumea, L. V. Saїs, R. Caparrós, F. Lara, V. Mazimpaka, M. V. Dulin, R. Garilleti, N. Gremmen, P.-L. Grundling, P. Heras, M. Infante, S. Huttunen, M. S. Ignatov, T. Korvenpää, M. Lebouvier, R. I. Lewis Smith, S.-H. Lin, J.-D. Yang, A. Linström, V. Plášek, J. A. Rosselló, J. Sawicki, J. van Rooy, V. R. Smith. 2013. New national and regional bryophyte records, 35. Journal of Bryology 35(2): 129–139.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2013. Dactylophorella muricata (Gottsche) R. M. Schust. (Marchantiophyta, Family Lejeuneaceae), a Genus and Species Record New to Liverwort Flora of Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity. 15 (3):253–257.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2013. Pycnolejeunea minutilobula, a newly recorded liverwort from Orchid Island of Taiwan. Lindbergia 36: 15–18.Yang, J.-D. , K.-Y. Yao and S.-H. Lin. 2013. Two Species of Colura (Family Lejeuneaceae) Newly Recorded to Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity. 15 (4): 331–341.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2013. Cheilolejeunea nipponica (S. Hatt.) S. Hatt., a Newly Recorded Liverwort in Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity. 15 (4): 343–347.Ellis L. T., J. Bayliss, M. A. Bruggeman-Nannenga, B. Cykowska, R. Ochyra, N. J. M. Gremmen, J-P. Frahm, T. A. Hedderson, P. Heras, V. M. Infante, V. Hugonnot, F. Mogro, V. Plášek, L. Číhal, J. Sawicki, A. Schäfer-Verwimp, A. Stebel, S. Ştefănuţ, J. Váňa, J.-D. Yang, S.-H. Lin. 2014. New national and regional bryophyte records, 38. Journal of Bryology 35: 61–72.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2014. Two Species of Cololejeunea (Family Lejeuneaceae) Newly Recorded in Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity. 16: 177–184.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2014. Cololejeunea nanhutashanensis (Lejeuneaceae), a new species from Taiwan. Phytotaxa 177: 56–60.Shevock, J. R., J.-D.Yang, B. C. Tan. 2014. New moss records for Taiwan. Telopea 17: 223–228.K.-Y. Yao and J.-D. Yang*. 2015. Calypogeia japonica Stephani, a Newly Recorded Liverwort in Taiwan. Journal of National Park 25(2): 76–80.Yang, J.-D. and S.-H. Lin. 2016. Cololejeunea laii J.-D.Yang & S.-H.Lin (Lejeuneaceae), sp. nov. from Orchid Island, Taiwan. Journal of Bryology 38: 66–69.Yang, J.-D. 2016. Frullania subtilis Steph. (Family Frullaniaceae), a Species New for the Liverwort Flora of Taiwan. BryoString 4: 1–6.Schäfer-Verwimp A., G. Winter, Y.-C. Hsu, S.-H. Lin, J.-D. Yang, K-Y. Yao. 2019. New and Interesting Bryophyte Records for Taiwan. BryoString 6: 1–15.Yang, J.-D. 2019. Lejeunea neelgherriana Gottsche (Family Lejeuneaceae), a Species New to Liverwort Flora of Taiwan. BryoString 6: 25–29.

TBRI's basic work in the near future will take the following directions:InventoryWe will conduct comprehensive bio-inventory and expect to complete and publish a initial inventory information within 10 years.ResearchThe Institute will recruit specialist personnel in accordance with each Division's operating needs, and conduct systematic research into the morphology, biology and behavior of the various endemic species and into methods of conserving them and protecting their habitat.ConservationWe will actively protect native species and their habitats and carry out conservation breeding, cultivation, rehabilitation and specimen preservation work.EducationWe will produce complete and comprehensive ecology teaching materials, organize study and training activities for conservation staff at every level and for the general public, in order to provide effective local ecology education. TBRI is the ROC's only experimental and research establishment dedicated entirely to surverying, researching and conserving endemic animal and plant species and special ecosystems. It is also one of a very small number of specialized nature conservation agencies worldwide. As such the expectations placed on the Insitute are tremendous, and in order to achieve our clearly defined but enormously difficult objectives, as well as relying on the hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and team spirit of all our staff, we hope even more that in all aspects of our conservation work - whether research, inventory or education - we can receive the support and assistance of conservation and conservation-related agencies, organizations, experts, scholars and officials inside and outside the ROC, be it in the form of personnel, materials, equipment, funding or technical guidance. The decision to establish the Institute is one which should never be regretted. For the protection of our native natural resources, for our own survival and that of later generations, we will strive to make its work a success.