Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan province, China. It lies within the watershed areas of the upper reaches of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong (Lancang) and Salween (Nujiang) rivers, in the Yunnanese section of the Hengduan Mountains.

Geography

The protected areas extend over 15 core areas, totalling 939,441.4 ha, and buffer areas, totalling 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, for a distance of over 300 km, three of Asia's great rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. After this area of near confluence, the rivers greatly diverge: the Nujiang empties out at Moulmein, Burma, in to the Indian Ocean, the Mekong south of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in to the South China Sea and the Yangtse flows in to the East China Sea at Shanghai. Selected nature reserves and places of scenic beauty in this unique region were collectively awarded World Heritage Site status in 2003 for their very rich biodiversity and outstanding topographical diversity.

Biology

In its description, UNESCO mentions: "(It) may be the most biologically diverse temperate region on earth" and "An exceptional range of topographical features - from gorges to karst to glaciated peaks -- is associated with the site being at a 'collision point' of tectonic plates".

Due to its topography and geographical location, the Three Parallel Rivers region contains many climate types. Average annual precipitation ranges from 4,600mm in the Dulongjian area in the west of Gongshan county to 300mm in the upper valleys of the Yangtse river. The protected areas are home to around 6,000 species of plants, 173 species of mammals, and 417 species of birds. Many of the flora and fauna species are endemic to the region.

Culture

Although this region has been acknowledged as a natural World Heritage Site, its demographic make-up also is highly interesting as it contains many of the twenty-five minorities found in Yunnan province including the Derung, the smallest of all of China's minority groups. Some of the other minorities found in this region are the Tibetan people, the Nu people, Lisu, Bai, Pumi and Naxi. Many of these minorities still use traditional costumes as their normal daily attire.

In the same region as the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas lies the Old Town of Lijiang, which is also a World Heritage Site in its own right.

Protected areas

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas consists of fifteen protected areas, in eight geographic clusters. The areas include:

The three separate sections of the Gaoligongshan Nature Reserve

Haba Xueshan Nature Reserve, with the Tiger Leaping Gorge

Bita Lake Nature Reserve, part of Pudacuo National Park, in Shangri-La County

Yunling Nature Reserve

Gongshan Scenic Area

Yueliangshan Scenic Area in Fugong County (also known as Stone Moon mountain)

Pianma Scenic Area in Lushui County

Baima-Meili Xue Shan—Meili Snow mountain range Reserve, with the highest peak, at 6,740 metres (22,110 ft), of the protected areas.

Julong Lake Scenic Area, in Deqin County

Laowoshan Scenic Area, in Fugong County

Hongshan Scenic Area, part of Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La County

Qianhushan (Thousand Lake Mountain) Scenic Area, in Shangri-La County

Laojunshan Scenic Area, in Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County

Flora and fauna

According to UNESCO "The area covered by the World Heritage site is claimed to be the most biodiverse and least disturbed temperate ecosystems in the world".

Flora

The protected terrestrial ecoregion areas of this biodiversity hotspot are for a large part covered with both temperate coniferous and broadleaf forests. The protected areas are home to around 6,000 species of plants, many of which are endemic to the region. More than 200 varieties of Rhododendron and more than 100 species of Gentians and Primulas are found in the areas.

Fauna

The fauna found in the areas includes 173 species of mammals, of which 81 are endemic, and 417 species of birds, of which 22 are endemic. Some of the mammals which inhabit these regions are the endemic Black Snub-nosed Monkey, the Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard; the Gaoligong Pika, Gongshan muntjac, Chinese Shrew Mole, and Capped Langur; the Stump-tailed Macaque, Asiatic Wild Dog, Black Musk Deer, and Takin; the Smooth-coated Otter, Hoolock gibbon, Asian Black Bear and Red Panda.

Rare bird species in the areas include Chestnut-throated Partridge, the Lady Amherst's pheasant, White-eared Pheasant, Yunnan Nuthatch, and Giant Nuthatch; the White-speckled Laughingthrush, Ferruginous Duck, Severtzov's Grouse, and Brown-winged Parrotbill; the Ward's Trogon, Black-necked Crane and Verreaux's Monal-Partridge.