Directory of Protected Areas in East Asia - IUCN

Directory of Protected Areas in East Asia: People, Organisations and Places
Name Latitude/Longitude Area (ha) Date of inscription
Zhalong 47°15’N/124°15’E 210,000 1992
Principal Features: A vast complex of permanent and seasonal freshwater marshes (max. water depth 0.75m)
with numerous shallow lakes and ponds (max. water depth 5m) and extensive Phragmites beds (40,000ha), in
the lower drainage basin of the river Wuyur (Ulun). The site also includes grassland and cultivated land
(20,000ha) with some areas of dyked fishponds. Extensive flooding of the marshes and surrounding land occurs
during the rainy season in spring and summer. The area is important for breeding birds. The marsh supports a
rich flora; more than 500 species of plant have been recorded.
Conservation Issues: The wetland can be divided into three regions: Lindian Reed Farm in the northeast, the
Qiqihar area in the northwest, and the Taikong area in the south, all of which are dependent on water from the
river Wuyur. However, the river has been dammed just as it enters the wetland, forming a reservoir (Dung Sheng
Reservoir), the outflow from which is controlled by a Water Bureau who charge each of the three regions for
water. Fishing is banned throughout the site between mid-May and mid-June, but intensive fishing during the
rest of the year has seriously depleted fish stocks. Reed harvesting provides a major source of local and regional
income, with about 80% of the marsh being cleared of reeds in the winter. The lack of water in the Qiqihar
region has resulted in a depletion of the reed harvest. Improper management of water resources, human
disturbance and excessive reed collection are having negative effects on bird populations, particularly cranes
(Gruidae). However, any further human settlement, agricultural expansion or housing developments within the
site are prohibited, and hunting is banned throughout the area. There is an education centre,
research/administrative centre, and a captive-breeding centre where Grus japonensis and G. vipio have been
reared successfully and released into the wild.
Biosphere Reserves
Name Latitude/Longitude Area (ha) Date of inscription
Bogdhad Mountain Biosphere
Reserve
44°00’N/83°00’E 1990
Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve 42°04’N/127°58’E 1979
Dinghu Nature Reserve 23°10’N/112°34’E 1979
Fanjinshan Mountain Biosphere
Reserve
27°55’N/108°47’E 1986
Fenglin 48°01’N/123°39’E 1997
Fujian Wuyishan Nature Reserve 27°45’N/117°38’E 1987
Jiuzhaigou 32°54’N/103°46’E 1997
Maolan 25°10’N/108°00’E 1996
Shennogjia 31°29’N/110°19’E 1990
Tianmushan 30°20’N/119°23’E 1996
Wolong Nature Reserve 31°05’N/103°08’E 1979
Xilin Gol Natural Steppe Protected
Area
43°34’N/116°22’E 1987
Xishuangbanna 22°00’N/101°00’E 1993
Yangcheng 33°00’N/120°00’E 1992
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