Youyou Nature Reserve

Youyou Nature Reserve

Youyou Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

Heilongjiang Youyou Nature Reserve is situated in Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, known as the "Forest Capital of the Motherland and Hometown of Korean Pine." It is classified as an inland wetland and aquatic ecosystem type. The reserve was established in 2001, approved as a provincial (ministerial) level nature reserve by the State Forestry Administration in 2004, as a provincial-level nature reserve by the provincial government in 2006, and upgraded to a national-level nature reserve in 2012.

Heilongjiang Youyou Nature Reserve is located in the middle section of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, spanning both the northern and southern slopes of the main mountain range. Its geographical coordinates are 128°10′15″–128°33′25″ east longitude and 48°13′07″–48°33′15″ north latitude. The total area of the reserve is 60,687 hectares, with wetlands occupying the majority. Major wetland types include forested swamps, shrub swamps, herbaceous swamps, and moss swamps. The reserve aims to protect rare wildlife resources, their habitats, and forested swamp ecosystems, integrating resource conservation, scientific research, and eco-tourism. Its primary conservation targets are the forested swamp ecosystems of the northeastern forest region, as well as rare wildlife species and their habitats.

The reserve not only features diverse vegetation types but also boasts rich species diversity. According to surveys, it is home to 836 species of higher plants, 330 species of vertebrates, and 370 species of insects. Among these, there are 8 species of plants and 42 species of animals under national key protection. The abundant biodiversity and ecosystem diversity highlight the reserve's significant conservation and scientific research value. In the current era of strengthened ecological initiatives across the nation, protecting this forested wetland holds important practical significance.

Since its establishment, the reserve management authority has carried out a series of efforts in resource protection, forest fire prevention, community education, and infrastructure development, achieving notable success in conservation management. To better realize the ecological and social benefits of the reserve and enhance its management capacity and standards, the Youyou Nature Reserve Management Bureau decided to apply to the State Council for its upgrade to a national-level nature reserve.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the reserve’s baseline resources, since 2001, the Youyou Nature Reserve Management Bureau has organized multiple scientific surveys in collaboration with experts and technical professionals from Northeast Forestry University, Yichun Resources Bureau, and Youyou Forestry Bureau. In 2008, experts from the Survey and Planning Institute of the State Forestry Administration and Northeast Forestry University conducted a thorough, in-depth, and systematic comprehensive scientific survey of the reserve, completing the “Comprehensive Scientific Survey Report of Heilongjiang Youyou Nature Reserve.”

To further strengthen the guidance on the construction and management of Youyou Nature Reserve, ensuring clear objectives, coherent strategies, and healthy development along scientific, rational, and standardized pathways, the Survey and Planning Institute of the State Forestry Administration formed a planning team based on the comprehensive scientific survey. This team was responsible for compiling the “General Plan for Heilongjiang Youyou Nature Reserve.” The General Plan is based on the Comprehensive Scientific Survey Report, tailored to the actual conditions of the reserve and aligned with relevant laws and policies. Following a comprehensive assessment of the reserve’s resource status, natural ecological quality, management level, and conservation value, the plan delineates functional zones, sets development goals, and provides an overall strategy covering conservation management, scientific research and monitoring, public education, infrastructure and supporting projects, community co-management, sustainable use, and eco-tourism.