Huocheng Ili River Valley National Wetland Park

Huocheng Ili River Valley National Wetland Park

Huocheng Ili River Valley National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

Huocheng Ili River Valley National Wetland Park is located in the southern part of Huocheng County, stretching from the China-Kazakhstan border in the west to the flood control dike beneath the ancient city wall of Huiyuan in the east. It is bounded by the Ili River to the south and the southern edge of Tukai Desert to the north, situated between 80°31’30.29”–81°01’12.1” east longitude and 43°52’17.6”–43°57’06.7” north latitude, covering a total area of 10,953 hectares. The wetland coverage rate reaches as high as 95.4%. The planned area features a rich variety of wetland types, including floodplain wetlands, marsh wetlands, and artificial wetlands. Among them, there are 1,455 hectares of floodplain, 7,579 hectares of herbaceous marsh, 1,393 hectares of forested marsh, and 25 hectares of reservoir and pond wetlands.

The Ili River Valley wetlands are one of the most biodiverse regions in Xinjiang, serving as breeding grounds, habitats, and migration routes for various waterfowl, as well as the ecological foundation for the livelihoods of local communities along the river. In the wetland areas on the northern bank of the Ili River, there are 149 species of higher plants, including one species of nationally protected wild plant (Class II), and 72 species of phytoplankton. The area is home to 130 species of vertebrates, including 32 species of fish, among which 18 are nationally protected animals (Class I and II). The planned area and its surrounding wetland landscapes in the main channel of the Ili River feature a diverse range of types, including rivers, marsh grasslands, natural secondary forests, marshes, and sandbars. These landscapes nurture rich biodiversity and play an important role in maintaining regional ecological balance.