Bawangling Nature Reserve

Bawangling Nature Reserve

Bawangling Nature Reserve is a provincial-level nature reserve.

Hainan Bawangling Provincial Nature Reserve (hereinafter referred to as Bawangling Nature Reserve) is located at the border between Changjiang County and Baisha County in the western part of Hainan Province, in a transitional zone from flatland to low mountains. Due to its unique terrain, the Bawangling forest area nurtures a rich diversity of tropical flora and fauna. The remaining forests here represent some of the best-preserved low-altitude tropical natural forests in western Hainan and feature typical ecosystems. Additionally, this area is an important habitat for the newly established wild population of the Hainan Eld’s deer, an internationally endangered and Class I nationally protected species, as well as a key distribution site for the Class II protected species, the pangolin. Moreover, it is also a crucial water resource forest area for the Changjiang Reservoir—the largest reservoir in Changjiang County. As such, it serves as a vital water conservation area in western Hainan and plays an essential role in maintaining the healthy functioning of the local ecosystem. With the implementation of Hainan’s “One Province, Two Zones” strategic plan and the Ecological Province Construction Outline, the Hainan Forestry Bureau designated the Bawangling forest area as a provincial nature reserve. This move is of great significance for better protecting the lowland tropical natural forests of Bawangling, safeguarding the Hainan Eld’s deer and pangolin along with their habitats, preserving soil and water, conserving water resources, improving the ecological environment, and promoting the sustainable development of nature reserve construction in Hainan Province.

The total area of Bawangling Nature Reserve is 3,844.3 hectares. The region has recorded 1,294 species of vascular plants, including 14 species under national key protection and 122 plant species endemic to Hainan. There are 238 species of terrestrial vertebrates, over 360 species of insects, and 18 species of fish. Bawangling is home to 63 rare and protected terrestrial vertebrate species, including 3 Class I national protected species and 31 Class II protected species. Thirty-two species are listed under the CITES convention (including 3 in Appendix I, 21 in Appendix II, and 8 in Appendix III), and 40 species are included in China’s Red Data Book of Endangered Animals. There are 8 species and 57 subspecies endemic to Hainan Island. This is still a relatively unknown area—a significant expanse of lowland tropical natural forest that plays a key role in restoring Hainan’s lowland rainforest ecosystems and revitalizing the natural vegetation around the Shilu Iron Mine. The reserve boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna, with complex and ancient plant flora components that are relatively rare in China. The characteristics of the natural vegetation in Bawangling and its favorable natural conditions hold important scientific significance for conducting a wide range of natural science research, plant classification studies, investigations into natural infiltration patterns, species domestication, and the rational utilization of natural resources. It also serves as an ideal natural site for teaching fieldwork and is an important base for scientific research and education.

Changjiang and Baisha are among the driest regions in western Hainan, suffering from severe soil erosion, low annual rainfall, and high evaporation rates. Bawangling Nature Reserve is an extremely important water conservation area for the locality. The streams within the reserve flow year-round, irrigating nearly 10,000 acres of fertile farmland around the reserve and also being utilized for power generation to support the region’s industrial electricity and agricultural production needs. The nearby Shilu Reservoir has suffered from serious silt accumulation due to the severe destruction of vegetation and soil erosion around the Shilu Iron Mine, greatly affecting its normal operation and lifespan. In contrast, the forest ecosystem of the reserve delivers tremendous ecological and social benefits in terms of water conservation, soil preservation, climate regulation, environmental beautification, and air purification. It holds significant conservation and scientific research value.