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CN011
Zhalong Nature Reserve
Location China (mainland), Heilongjiang
Central coordinates 124o 12.00' East  47o 12.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii
Area 210,000 ha
Altitude 140 - 146m
Year of IBA assessment 2009





Site description Zhalong is located on the lower Wuyur He river, a tributary of the Nen Jiang river, 44 km from Qiqihar. The main habitat is marshland, and there are 228 pools and large areas of reedbed (80% of the total area). The open water is used by swimming birds, while the marshes are used by waders. The most serious threat to the nature reserve is over-exploitation of water resources for agriculture and oil mining.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Swan Goose Anser cygnoides unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Baikal Teal Anas formosa unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Least Concern 
Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Critically Endangered 
Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Near Threatened 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Great Bustard Otis tarda unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Siberian Crane Leucogeranus leucogeranus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Critically Endangered 
White-naped Crane Grus vipio unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Vulnerable 
Hooded Crane Grus monacha unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Vulnerable 
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Endangered 
Marsh Grassbird Locustella pryeri unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4iii   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Zha Long Nature Reserve 210,000 is identical to site 210,000  
Zhalong Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 210,000 is identical to site 210,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)   -

Other biodiversity Most of the plants in the area are herbaceous.

Conservation response Established as a provincial-level nature reserve in 1979, upgraded to a national nature reserve in 1987, and designated in 1992 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Zhalong Nature Reserve. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife