Back in the 1970s, even before UNESCO established its "World Heritage Center" (WHC), the World Conservation Union attempted to have Taroko Gorge included in a worldwide list of natural protected areas.
一九七○年代聯合國尚未訂立「世界遺產保護條約」，聯合國之下的國際自然保育聯盟（IUCN），已嘗試將太魯閣峽谷納入轄下的世界「自然保護區」名錄。