Danjiang Wetland Nature Reserve

Danjiang Wetland Nature Reserve

The Danjiang Wetland Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

The Danjiang Wetland National Nature Reserve is located in Xichuan County, Nanyang City, Henan Province, at the junction of Hubei, Henan, and Shaanxi provinces. It borders Xixia County to the north, Neixiang County and Dengzhou City to the east, Danjiangkou City and Laoguan City of Hubei Province to the south, and Shangnan County of Shaanxi Province and Yun County of Hubei Province to the west. The reserve spans a total area of 64,027 hectares, including 31,458 hectares of land and 32,969 hectares of water bodies. It serves as the core water source area for China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project’s middle route, aiming to protect a secondary inland estuarine wetland ecosystem formed by the wetland’s aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and their habitats. Originally a provincial-level reserve, it was upgraded to a national-level one in April 2007 with approval from the State Council.

The reserve is home to China’s first-class protected animals such as the Siberian crane and crested ibis, second-class protected animals such as the whooper swan, mandarin duck, falcons, and Lady Amherst's pheasant, as well as second-class protected plants such as the fragrant fruit tree, eucommia, and ginkgo. The establishment of the reserve plays an important role in protecting species resources and maintaining the healthy functioning of the ecosystem.

Historical Development

In September 1958, construction began on the Danjiangkou Reservoir, which started impounding water in 1968. With a capacity of 17.54 billion cubic meters, the reservoir covered 40,000 hectares of water area within Xichuan County.

In 1973, with approval from higher authorities, it merged with the state-owned Jingguan Forest Farm and was renamed the Shangsi Branch of the Henan State-Owned Xichuan Jingguan Forest Farm.

In 1993, the Shangsi Provincial Forest Park was established with approval from the Henan Provincial Forestry Department.

In September 2000, Xichuan County applied to higher authorities to establish the Danjiangkou Reservoir Wetland Nature Reserve.

In August 2001, the People’s Government of Henan Province approved the establishment of the Henan Xichuan Danjiangkou Reservoir Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve.

In April 2007, the State Council approved its upgrade to a national-level nature reserve.