Rivers and Wetlands

Shaanxi Province adopted solid measures to strengthen the protection of ecological environment in the Yellow River basin and promote high-quality development. In line with the national "Overall Plan", we have worked out the plan for Shaanxi Province, strictly implemented the overall standards for waste water discharge, and taken tough hands in pollution receiving red line management of water function zones.

As the biggest branch of the Yellow River, the Weihe River winds its way eastward through Shaanxi. From 2012, Shaanxi has gradually reached the goal of making the water in the Weihe River clean again. The trans-regional water of the Weihe River reaches high quality. Weihe River Ecological Corridor has become a leisure and relaxation resort for nearby residents.

Southern Shaanxi is an important water source for the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, accounting for over 70% of water transferred to China's North. In order to ensure long-term high standard water quality of water source for the middle route of the Project, Shaanxi has protected the water source areas with meticulous care, and has carried out a large-scale ecological protection and control project of soil and water conservation. The comprehensive improvement of Hanjiang River and Danjiang River has been launched successively, and the integrated construction projects of ecological environment control, water resources allocation and flood control facilities have been implemented along the rivers, so as to solve the problems of frequent flood and waterlogging, serious soil erosion and water ecological deterioration. The ecological restoration project of the water source has been enhanced, with the function of water conservation significantly improved. The goal of"supplying Beijing and Tianjin with clean water" has been achieved. We have continuously harnessed key river basins management. The trans-regional water qualities of Handanjiang River and Jialingjiang River both remain at Level II.

The numbers of wetland classes and wetland types in Shaanxi account for 80% and 35.29% of the national respectively. In terms of the proportion of the wetland area, river wetlands take the largest area, accounting for 83.5% of the total wetlands in Shaanxi Province. The wetland reaches of the Yellow River basin are wide open, with crossing ravines rising and falling abruptly. The water volumes during the flooding and dry seasons vary greatly, leading to large areas of the floodplain. The wetlands of the Qinling river basin, located in the Qinling-Daba Mountains, are generally of mountainous rivers, with narrow river beds, large gradients, and rapid currents.

Shaanxi boasts diversified biological resources in wetlands, especially waterfowl with various species, in large numbers, and at high protection levels. There are a total of 121 species of wetland birds belonging to nine orders and 24 families in Shaanxi, of which seven specie are under national first-class protection, 12 under national second-class protection, and 19 under provincial level protection. One species of wild plants are under national second-class protection, and two under provincial key protection.

At present, Shaanxi has established nine wetland natural reserves at various levels and 43 national wetland parks (pilots), of which 26 have passed the national inspection. A natural reserve classification system has been preliminarily formed with national parks as the main body, natural reserves as the foundation, and natural parks of various types as supplementary.

Crested Ibis:Oriental Jewel

As one of the world's most threatened ibis species, crested ibis is listed as an endangered animal on the IUCN Red List. As an endemic species in China, it is a first-grade state protection animal. Crested ibis, known as the"Oriental Jewel", was previously thought to be extinct in China until May 1981 when only seven ibises were seen in Yaojiagou, Baliguan Township of Yangxian County, Shaanxi, causing quite a stir both at home and abroad. At that time, Qinling Mountain Range became the only place with exiting wild ibises in the world which is of great international importance and special significance.

In 1986, under the approval of Shaanxi People's Government, Shaanxi Crested Ibis Observation Station was established for the bird's protection. Shaanxi Crested Ibis Nature Reserve was also founded in 2001. In addition, Shaanxi Hanzhong National Nature Reserve, with the approval of the State Council, was established in July 2005, with an area of 37,549 hm2and forestry coverage of 65.5%. It is the only reserve boasting captive and wild crested ibises in the world, known as one of the best ecological regions on the earth at the same latitude.

The distribution area of crested ibis has spread now from Yangxian County to 15 counties of four cities, including Hanzhong, Ankang, Baoji and Tongchuan, with a total of area of 14,000 km2, reflecting the harmony between human beings and nature, enabling crested ibis an icon of ecology.

With the support of the national strategy of establishing park-oriented nature protection zones, Shaanxi Crested Ibis Nature Reserve will advance continuously the scientific protection and rational use of natural resources as well as the coordinated development of protection zones and the local area in the future, driving Shaanxi into a new stage in ecological civilization.