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CN438
Dongting Hu wetlands
Location China (mainland), Hunan
Central coordinates 112o 59.00' East  29o 18.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii
Area 500,000 ha
Altitude 15 - 60m
Year of IBA assessment 2009





Site description The IBA is located in the climatic transition between the central and northern subtropical regions, with a mild and moist climate and well-defined seasonality. The wetlands help to regulate the water level in the Yangtze River. In the wet season the area of shallow water area is around 12,400 ha, with an area of deep water of some 53,000 ha. In the dry season the shallow water area increases to 46,000 ha, and the deep water area decreases to 19,400 ha.

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 
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Vulnerable 
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Falcated Duck Anas falcata unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Near Threatened 
Baikal Teal Anas formosa unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Least Concern 
Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Critically Endangered 
Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Endangered 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Great Bustard Otis tarda unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Swinhoe's Rail Coturnicops exquisitus 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 
Common Crane Grus grus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Hooded Crane Grus monacha unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A4i  Vulnerable 
Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Critically 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)  
Dongdongtinghu Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 190,000 protected area contained by site 190,000  
Dongdongtinghu (Hunan) Nature Reserve 190,300 protected area contained by site 190,300  
Mupinghu Nature Reserve 26,700 protected area contained by site 26,700  
Nan Dongting Wetland and Waterfowl Reserve Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 336,000 protected area contained by site 168,000  
Nandongtihu Shidi and Shuiqin Nature Reserve 168,000 protected area contained by site 168,000  
Xi Dongting Lake (Mupinghu)Nature Reserve Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 35,000 protected area contained by site 35,000  

Habitats

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

Other biodiversity The area supports Psephurus gladius, Acipenser sinenis and Neophocaenoides.

Conservation response East Dongting Hu Nature Reserve was established in 1982, and upgraded to a national nature reserve (190,000 ha) in 1994; this reserve was designated in 1992 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. South Donting Hu Nature Reserve (168,000 ha) was established at the provincial-level in 1987 and subsequently upgraded to a national nature reserve; this reserve was designated in 2002 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site). Mupinghu (West Dongting Hu) Nature Reserve (26,700 ha) was established at the provincial-level in 1998 and subsequently upgraded to a national nature reserve; this reserve was designated in 2002 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Dongting Hu wetlands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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