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CN027
Xingkai Hu Nature Reserve
Location China (mainland), Heilongjiang
Central coordinates 132o 34.00' East  45o 18.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii
Area 222,488 ha
Altitude 65 - 80m
Year of IBA assessment 2009





Site description Xingkai Hu Nature Reserve includes the northern part of Xingkai Hu (known as Lake Khanka in Russia), where the ratio of open water to wetlands is 5:1. The coniferous and broadleaf mixed forests by the lake shores are utilized by forest birds.

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 
Bean Goose Anser fabalis unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Vulnerable 
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Northern Pintail Anas acuta passage  2008  4,000-5,000 individuals  unknown  A4i  Least Concern 
Garganey Anas querquedula unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Common Teal Anas crecca unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Critically Endangered 
Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Steller's Sea-eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
White-naped Crane Grus vipio unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Vulnerable 
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Endangered 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds passage  2008  30,000-100,000 individuals  unknown  A4iii   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Xingkai Lake National Nature Reserve Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 444,976 is identical to site 222,488  
Xingkaihu Nature Reserve 222,488 is identical to site 222,488  

Habitats

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

Other biodiversity The core area is the natural range of Nycterentes pyocyonoides and Ondatra zibethicus. Nationally protected plants include Pinus takahasii.

Conservation response Established as a provincial-level nature reserve in 1986, upgraded to Xingkai Hu National Nature Reserve in 1994, and designated in 2002 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and in 2007 as a ‘Biosphere Reserve’ under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme. The nature reserve is planning to form a management committee, and to have transboundary management with an adjacent nature reserve in Russia.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Xingkai Hu Nature Reserve. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

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