IUCN Management Category IV (Managed nature reserve)
Biogeographical Province 2.30.11 (Mongolian-Manchurian steppe)
Geographical Location Centred on the Altay Mountains in Burqin County, approximately 130km north of Burqin. 48°25'N, 86°50'E
Date and History of Establishment Established in 1980 on approval by the Regional People's Government in Document 167 (Orr, n.d.).
Area 250,000ha
Land Tenure State
Altitude Ranges from 1,500m to 3,000m.
Physical Features Comprises the southern slopes of the Middle Range, formed by the continuous process of faulting and upheaval. Glaciation has created a number of lakes within the reserve, including Hanas Lake in the north-west of the Altay Mountains formed during the Quaternary period (Ji et al., 1990). Soils include chestnut and grey forest types, depending on altitude (Richardson, 1990).
Climate Conditions are generally cold, with mean annual air temperature between 3°C and 4°C. Summers are short. Annual precipitation ranges from 250-350mm at 1,500m to 500mm at 1,500-3,000m, creating fairly humid conditions (Ji et al., 1990).
Vegetation Due to severe conditions, a coniferous deciduous forest (light taiga) predominates (Richardson, 1990). Species include many Siberian representatives such as Siberian larch Larix subirica, Siberian spruce Picea obovata, Siberian pine Pinus sibirica and Siberian fir Abies sibirica. Other broadleaf species are Swedish birch Betula verrucosa, David poplar Populus davidiana and bay-leaf willow Salix pentandra, being of both commercial and scientific value (Wenhua and Xianying, 1989).
Fauna Mammal species include snow leopard Panthera unica (E), lynx Felis lynx, red deer Cervus elaphus, sable Martes zibellina, ibex Capra ibex, argali sheep Ovis ammon and Arctic hare Lepus timidus. Birds include capercaillie Tetrao spp., Eurasian hazel grouse Bonasia bonasia and European black grouse Tetrao tetrix (Wenhua and Xianying, 1989).
Cultural Heritage No information
Local Human Population The reserve is largely inaccessible (Ji et al., 1990) and, therefore, has not been exploited (Richardson, 1990).
Visitors and Visitor Facilities The reserve has been virtually untouched by tourism due to its relative inaccessibility (Ji et al., 1990).
Scientific Research and Facilities No information
Conservation Value The reserve lies in the main glacial region of China, and includes features such as Hanas Lake (Wenhua and Xianying, 1989). It contains valuable examples of Siberian flora and fauna (Xiyang, 1988).
Conservation Management The aim of the reserve is to preserve the natural ecosystem (Yuqing, 1987). Administration of the reserve is supervised by the Environmental Protection Agency in Beijing (Achuff et al., 1986).
Management Constraints No information
Staff No information
Budget No information
Local Addresses
Chief, Division of Nature Conservation, National Environmental Protection Agency, Beijing
References
Achuff, P., Butler, J., Maw, R. and Johnson, J. (1986). Heilongjiang, China - Alberta, Canada. Scientific exchange 1986 concerning: wildlife, parks and nature reserves. University of Alberta, Alberta. Unpublished report. P. 5.
Ji, Z., Guangmei, Z., Huadong, W. and Jialin, X. (1990). The natural history of China. Pp. 40-41,137.
Orr, (n.d.). Some Chinese reserves. Unpublished report. P. 4.
Richardson, S.D. (1990). Forests and forestry in China. Island Press, Washington DC. Pp. 78-79.
Wenhua, L. and Xianying, Z. (1989). China's nature reserves. Foreign Languages Press, Beijing. P. 76.
Xiyang, T. (1988). Living treasures. An odyssey through China's extraordinary nature reserves. P. 170.
Yuqing, W. (1987). Natural conservation regions in China. Ambio 16: 326.
Date May 1991