Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve

Coordinates: 24°40′N 98°25′E / 24.66°N 98.42°E / 24.66; 98.42
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve
GNRR
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
LocationWestern Yunnan, China
Nearest cityBaoshan City
Coordinates24°40′N 98°25′E / 24.66°N 98.42°E / 24.66; 98.42
Area4,055.49 km2 (1,565.83 sq mi)
Established1986
Governing bodyYunan Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve Bureau
World Heritage siteMan and the Biosphere Programme
http://www.glgs.gov.cn/ glgs.gov.cn

The Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve (GNNR) is a

Nu (Salween) River
.

It is a

World Wildlife Fund, a World Biosphere Reserve, and a part of the Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Site.[1]

Geography

Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve covers an altitude ranging from the Nujiang lowlands (700 m) to

silk road, which is the only access to the highest elevations in the reserve.[2]

The unique climatic condition of the area allows a complete transition from

Nujiang Langcang Gorge alpine conifer and mixed forests and Northern Indochina subtropical forests.[3][4]

Socioeconomic condition

As an

Han, Dai, Lisu, Hui, Bai, Miao, Yi, Zhuang, Nu, Achang, Jingpo, Wa, de'ang, Nakhi, Derung, and Tibetan form the multicultural population.[2]

The major livelihood patterns of these inhabitants are agriculture (especially of cash crops such as sugarcane), household industries such as handicrafts, carpentry, and logging. There are local organisations such as the Gaoligongshan Farmers’ Biodiversity and Conservation Association, a small tourism organisation in Dayutang, and a women’s association in Manghuang that are promoting alternative livelihoods to save the reserve. Ecotourism has developed into one of the major means of subsistence among the inhabitants. The Chinese Ministry of Forestry has allotted 8,550 hectares for tourism development.[1]

Biodiversity

With its range of natural forests, the National Nature Reserve protects a large number of flora and fauna, and especially rare and endemic species. According to available statistics, there are 2,389 animal types in the reserve, and 82 of them are categorised as "nationally important". Summary can be given as follows:[5]

Wildlife

There are about 205 species of wild mammals classified under 32 families and 10 orders. These include:

Birds

525 species of birds are recorded, which fall under 58 families and 19 orders. Species under protection are Sclater's monal, golden eagle, cinereous vulture, Mrs. Hume's pheasant, kalij pheasant, satyr tragopan, and silver pheasant.

Fish

There are 49 species of fish, and among them are the rare Lu River schizothoracin, Schizothorax myzostomus, and Burmese loach.

Vegetation

There are 2,514 native

Paragutzlaffia, Metapanax, Notoseris, Syncalathium, Heteropolygonatum, Davidia, Berneuxia, Whytochia, Gaoligongshania, Eurycorymbus, Pterygiella, Dickinsia, and Sinolimprichtia.[6] It is the native home of azaleas (over 800 varieties), arguably the most famous flower in China; the unique species are: white Sim’s azalea, yellow azalea, Photinia glomerata, Rosa biflora, raspberry, Sorbus astateria, Bulbophyllum dulongense, Calanthe dulongensis, Coelogyne gongshanensis, Davidia involucrata
.

Towards the eastern lower foothills, the dominant species are

orchids and ferns.[1][7]

Threatened species

The reserve is the home to many

Trachypithecus phayrei, and Cuon alpinus. As many as 55 species of plants are also endangered.[8] All the 14 endemic genera are under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) risk category[clarification needed]. Out of these, 10 taxa are critically endangered, 5 are endangered, 10 are considered vulnerable to extinction, and 107 are still data deficient.[6]

Discovery of new monkey species

Main article: Myanmar snub-nosed monkey

A new species of

critically threatened species.[11] The new species was heralded as one of the Top 10 New Species 2012 by the International Institute for Species Exploration.[12] In 2012, it was also listed at 9th place of the Top 10 weirdest new species by the Chinese news portal, China.org.cn.[13]

Conservation programmes

History and development

In 1983, the southern section of Gaoligong Mountains was declared as Gaoligong Shan Nature Reserve by the Yunnan provincial government. It consisted of

UNESCO World Heritage Site.[14]

Management

The reserve is divided into three administrative blocks of which two prefecture bureaus are in Baoshan City (Baoshan Administrative Office of Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve) and one in Nujiang Prefecture (Nujiang Administrative Office of Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve). The reserve headquarters is Baihualing, which is known for its exquisite

bird watching
site.

Challenges

As the habitation of a significant number of human populations, the reserve continuously is under threat from

reservoirs—the Chinese government is developing plans to build a series of 13 dams in the Nu River which could adversely affect the ecosystem.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) Conservation Portal (2011). "Gaoligonshan Nature Reserve". HKH Conservation Portal. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Archived from the original on 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  2. ^ a b c US-China Arts Exchange (2009). "Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve". uschinaarts.org. The Center for U.S.-China Arts Exchange at Columbia University. Archived from the original on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  3. ^ "Nujiang Langcang Gorge alpine conifer and mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  4. ^ "Northern Indochina subtropical forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  5. ^ China Exploration (2011). "Gaoligongshan Mountain Nature Reserve". chinaexploration.com. China Exploration & Sichuan China Youth Travel Service. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  6. ^
    doi:10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-10-00056.1
    .
  7. doi:10.3112/erdkunde.1984.04.04
    .
  8. ^ a b The Nature Conservancy (2011). "Places We Protect: Northern Gaoligong Mountain Range". nature.org. The Nature Conservancy. Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  9. ^ Wheeler Q (18 December 2011). "New to Nature No 61: Rhinopithecus strykeri". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  10. S2CID 205329996
    .
  11. S2CID 467234
    .
  12. ^ Murray R (23 May 2012). "Top 10 New Species list includes sneezing monkey, blue tarantula and night-blooming orchid". Daily News. NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  13. ^ Lin X (15 August 2012). "Top 10 weirdest new species: #9 Myanmar snub-nosed monkey". China.org.cn. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  14. ^ Yunnan tourism Information Network. "Gaoligong Mountain Nature Reserve". ynta.gov.cn. Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration. Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2013-05-28.

External links

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