Dashanbao [Zhaotong]

Location: Dashanbao Wetland is located in the Dashanbao Township of Yunnan Province, southern China. It is 79 km away from the urban district of Zhaoyang, Zhaotong City.

Criteria: 2,3,4,6

Importance: The site supports the highest concentration, representing one fifth of the world population, of the wintering and globally vulnerable Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis with 1,176 individuals in 2004. The species is now increasing after a declining trend. The globally endangered Chinese Merganser Mergus squamatus also occurs. The site is important for roosting, staging or wintering migratory waterbirds, e.g. Ciconia nigra, Grus grus, and Cygnus cygnus.

Wetland Types: U,Va,Ts (dominant types shown in bold)

Dashanbao Wetland comprises a peat moor in subalpine swamp meadows, with shallow water vegetation.

Biological/Ecological notes: Many wetlands occur in the Dashanbao Nature Reserve, larger ones are at the Tiaodun River, as well as the Dahaizi, Lelizhai, Qinjia Haizi and Yanmaidi reservoir. The water quantity in Tiaodun and Dahaizi changes seasonally. The transitional water area increases in winter and serves as habitat for Grus nigricollis which feeds mainly on pasture and moorland. Along with the soil moisture changes, the wetland is a ecotone transiting from an aquatic to a xeric environment. Shallow water vegetation is dominated by Poa annua Linn and Geum aleppicum. Cyperus serotinus and water pepper grow in shallow water of rivulets. The cyperaceae Eleocharis congesta and E. yokoscensis occur on meadow soils which are saturated with water. Locally, Iris laevigata is present. Intact and extensive sub-alpine meadow occurs on the high plateau. On the wetland's slopes, the soil is transforming from meadow- to brown-soil and the vegetation is changing from mesophyte to artificial grass. The coenotype consists of secondary shrubberies, tamed pasture and cultivated land. Wetlands, meadow- and farm-land provide a good habitat for waterbirds and other animals. Many juvenile fishes, shrimps and insects live in the shallow water and swamp of the reservoir. Plants and crops on the meadow provide abundant food and therefore form a stable food chain ecosystem. The 186 vascular plant species include 11 species of Pteridophyta and 175 species of seed plants. Most common are Poaceae, Rosaceae, Compositae and Cyperaceae. In total, 7 nationally protected bird species occur: Grus grus, Accipiter gentiles, Milvus migrans, Accipiter nisus, Circus cyaneus, Glaucidium cuculoides), and Haliaeetus albicilla.

Hydrological/Physical notes: Dashanbao is the dominant peak of the Wulianfeng Mountains and includes a high plateau. Dashanbao Wetland lies at the junction of Jiansha River (upstream Yangtze) and its tributary Niulan. Limestone and basalt of the Paleozoic Erathem and sandstone of the Mesozoic Erathem are present. The area is part of a quasi-plain of the early tertiary, and the mountain plateau has been formed due to the cutting by rivers along with the uplift of the earth's crust. The wetland's reservoir is human-made. There are many upland swamp meadows and underground springs with good water quality forming 3,150ha of plateau wetland. Peat- and marshy soils are dominant with a high organic content of ca. 20%, a nitrogen content of ca. 2%, a pH of 8.2, and a low available nutrient content. The water is of good quality, potable, has a temperature of 6潞C, a pH of 8.2, an average depth of 0.8-3m, and is not dried at all seasons. The warm plateau monsoon climate with cold winters and cool summers is characterized by a temperature of 6.2潞C in average (-1潞C in January, 12.7潞C in July), long sunshine with up to 2,300h per year, ca. 123 frostless and 35 snow days, and an annual rainfall of 1,165mm. Major hydrological functions include flood control, water recharge to supply ground water by underground springs to downstream and hillside spring vents, prevention of soil erosion, and sediment trapping.

Human Uses: The Nature Reserve itself has the full state land use rights. The site's water area is providing irrigation water to the downstream area. The swamp and meadows are used for seasonal grazing. The wetland is suitable for seasonal tourism and recreation. The local people traditionally love and protect cranes as magic birds and a harmonious coexistence exists. The site is of high scientific research value. Conservational education and research is ongoing, e.g. satellite tracking and ecological assessment of Grus nigricollis, as well as muskeg investigation. The surroundings are owned by the state but the collectives have user rights. Pasture dominates but woodland, cultivated land, market towns and roads also occur.

Conservation Measures: The site has been designated as National Nature Reserve in 2003 covering 19,200ha. A management plan is in place. The protection and control measures are effective and include a restoration project to promote community-based forestry and returning farmlands to forestry, increasing foraging space in moorlands and pastures especially for Grus nigricollis, protection of wild plants, marsh vegetation restoration, water quality improvement, media productions, and an educational campaign for communities. A control station has been set up and local regulations are established to standardize the conservation management. Local people within the core zone are being encouraged and compensated to relocate, and a Grus nigricollis rescue station has been established. The wetlands have been used by locals for peat digging. Nowadays, trees as fuel source are planted, and coal subsidies as well as energy saving measures exist. Further conservation measures are planned.

Adverse Factors: Peat digging for fuel use has taken place. In the surroundings, the locals are accustomed to stocking while overgrazing may negatively influence the renewal and recovery of muskeg.

Site Management: Nanjiao Wenquan, Zhaoyang District, 657000, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province.

External Link:

Based on the 2004 Ramsar Information Sheet.