Fenglin National Nature Reserve

Fenglin National Nature Reserve

Fenglin National Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

Heilongjiang Fenglin National Nature Reserve was established in 1958, covering a total area of 18,165.4 hectares. Located in the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved Korean pine forest zone of the Xiaoxing'an Mountains in the northern temperate zone, it is an important scientific research and demonstration reserve in northern China, as well as a world-renowned biosphere ecological tourism destination. It was approved as a national nature reserve by the State Council in 1988; joined the Chinese Man and Biosphere Network in 1993; and was incorporated into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1997. It is the earliest reserve in Heilongjiang Province to join the World Biosphere Network. In 2006, it was designated as a national model reserve, serving as a national science education base, a national outdoor environmental education base for primary and secondary schools, and a national ecological civilization education base. In 2015, Fenglin Reserve became the first and only nature reserve in China to pass the "Forest Ecological Environment Service Certification for Nature Reserves."

The ecological value of Fenglin Nature Reserve is extremely precious. It preserves the most typical and intact original Korean pine forest in the Northern Hemisphere. After billions of years of ecosystem evolution, it is a zonal climax community formed during the Miocene epoch of the Tertiary period (25 million years ago) that has adapted to the regional ecological background. It also retains the most ancient characteristics of Tertiary plant communities to the greatest extent, earning it the title of a "Tertiary forest." It is the oldest, richest, and most diverse forest ecosystem unique to the northern temperate zone in the northeastern part of the Eurasian continent. Geographically, it is highly pristine and represents a special area of significant biodiversity conservation value.

Fenglin Nature Reserve holds immense ecological and environmental protection value as well as high scientific research significance. The area is rich in natural ecological resources and serves as a valuable gene pool for species. Data from the fifth forest inventory in 2013 shows that the total forest stock here is approximately 4.6 million cubic meters, with a forest coverage rate of 96.6%, and Korean pine accounting for about 50% of the total forest composition. The vast primeval forest maintains a well-preserved pristine state, making it one of the more ecologically intact regions for biodiversity conservation within the Earth’s biome at similar latitudes. Within the entire forest ecosystem of the reserve, there are over 613 species of wild plants, including 6 species under national second-class protection. There are 747 species of wild animals: 43 species of mammals, 220 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 9 species of reptiles, 22 species of fish, and 444 species of insects. Among these, 10 species are under national first-class protection and 15 species under national second-class protection. Research conducted by domestic experts and Finnish specialists in Fenglin Reserve has found that, compared to European biomes at similar latitudes, many species that have gone extinct in Europe remain well-preserved here, with a relatively intact biological chain. The quality of the ecological environment cycle is among the best in the region.

As a member of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the Fenglin Nature Reserve Administration actively participates in various activities organized by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. Regarding local community ecological protection and development, it organizes various forms of science communication and educational activities, actively fulfilling its obligations as a member of the Biosphere Network. At the World Network of Biosphere Reserves Congress, it takes an active role in formulating the International Biosphere Reserve Code of Conduct, joining in the signing of the "Libo Declaration," and participating in the formulation of international action plans for biosphere reserves such as the "Madrid Action Plan" in Spain and the "Lima Action Plan" in Peru. It also engages in international exchanges within East Asian and Southeast Asian biosphere reserves, introducing typical case studies in areas such as biodiversity conservation and the practice of biosphere reserves as green universities.

Since its establishment, the reserve has actively carried out resource protection and scientific research. It has conducted five forest inventories, completed dozens of scientific research projects, and published over 80 academic papers. It has collaborated and exchanged with more than 80 scientific research institutions and universities both domestically and internationally, fully demonstrating the unique ecological, economic, environmental, and scientific research values of Fenglin Nature Reserve. In 2015, the Reserve Administration completed the first phase of construction for the "Xiaoxing'an Mountains Forest Ecosystem National Positioning Observation and Research Station."

The legal framework of the Fenglin Nature Reserve Administration is relatively well-developed. In 2001, the "Heilongjiang Fenglin National Nature Reserve Management Regulations" were passed by the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Congress. This set of regulations is the first local forestry regulation in Heilongjiang’s forestry industry. Based on this legislation, the Fenglin Nature Reserve Forestry Public Security Bureau was established, strengthening the legal protection and management of the reserve.

The infrastructure of Fenglin Nature Reserve is largely complete, including an office building of 2,400 square meters, a scientific research and education reception center of 2,300 square meters, and auxiliary facilities. There are two steel watchtowers, one checkpoint, and five management stations.