Mount Wuyi, China
Contents
- 1 Geographical Location
- 2 Date and History of Establishment
- 3 Area
- 4 Land Tenure
- 5 Altitude
- 6 Physical Features
- 7 Climate
- 8 Vegetation
- 9 Fauna
- 10 Cultural Heritage
- 11 Local Human Population
- 12 Visitor and Visitor Facilities
- 13 Scientific Research and Facilities
- 14 Conservation Value
- 15 Conservation Management
- 16 IUCN Management Category
- 17 Further Reading
Geographical Location
Mount Wuyi (27° 40'N, 117° 45'E) is a World Heritage Site located in the north-western part of Fujian Province. The nearest city to the property is Wuyishan City, which lies in some 5 kilometers (km) from the territory. It has a railway station and good highway connection with other cities including capital of Fujian Province - Fuzhou City. 27° 40'N, 117° 45'E.
Date and History of Establishment
History of the protection of the Mount Wuyi area goes back to the VIII Century AD when its mountains and forests were protected under emperor's orders. The exceptional beauty of the natural features of mountains surrounding the stream of Wuyi River was among main attractions of the area. After establishing of the People's Republic of China, the state declared the virgin forests in the northern part of range of Mount Wuyi as a non-felling area and strengthened its protection and management. In 1979 the State Council of China approved establishment of Mount Wuyi Nature Reserve. In 1987 the reserve was nominated as a biosphere reserve under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme. Inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1999.
Area
The total area of the territory is 99,975 hectares (ha), with an additional buffer zone of 27,888 ha, and also an additional separate area of protection to the south-east of some 48 ha, which encompasses the remains of an ancient city. The core area is divided into a large Biodiversity Protection Area (63,575 ha) and two further Scenic Protection Areas of both natural and cultural importance (totaling 36,400 ha). The nominated area includes the existing Wuyi Shan Nature Reserve (and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) which covers 56,530 ha.
Land Tenure
State-owned.
Altitude
From below 200 meters (m) to 2,158 m (Huanggang Mountain).
Physical Features
This area is one of considerable geological and geomorphological interest. Tectonically the area lies within the eastern Asia and circum-Pacific belt, and is a part of the Cathayshan fold system. The area has been one of intensive volcanic activity and large fault structures, further influenced by water erosion, weathering and collapse. These have led to formation of a landscape with characteristic features as winding [[stream]s], columnar and dome shapes of cliffs and system of caves. There are combinations of high peaks and rocks, 112 of them higher of than 1,000 m above sea level with valleys and streams. The rocks of the western peaks are typically volcanic or plutonic, with peaks above 1,500 consisting of hard tuffaceous lavas, rhyolite and granite. The eastern area, around the Nine bent-Stream includes a large number of isolated and sheer-sided monoliths of red sandstone which have been formed by the natural riverine erosion following the natural faults and jointing in this rock.
Climate
The mountains of Mount Wuyi form a protective barrier against cold air masses from the north-west, at the same time retaining the warm, moist air stream that comes in from the sea and gives the region its humid, often foggy climate with plenty of rainfall. Annual temperature ranges from 12°C to 18°C in lower altitudes with annual precipitation of 2,200 millimeters (mm) in the south-west to 3,200 mm in the north. In the highest areas, above 1,800 m snow can remain on the ground for up to one month in winter. Humidity is 80-85%. Fogs are common in the area.
Vegetation
The nominated area includes a range of vegetation types, with differences largely associated with elevation. Probably the most extensive and important vegetation types are the evergreen broad-leaved forests, which include some of the largest tracts of humid]sub-tropical forests in the world. Eleven broad vegetation patterns have been described: temperate coniferous forest, warm coniferous forest, temperate broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest, deciduous and broad-leaved forest, evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous mixed forest, evergreen broad-leaved forest, bamboo forest, deciduous broad-leaved shrub forest, evergreen broad-leaved shrub forest, brush-wood and meadow steppe. The dominant tree families include Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae, Magnoliaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, and Hamamelidaeceae. At higher altitudes there is a distinctive cloud forest with Ericaceae and a number of coniferous families. Among tree species are Eyer evergreen chinquapin Castonopsis eyeri, Farges evergreen chinquapin C. fabri, Hance tanbark oak Lithocarpus hancei, blue Japanese oak Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Taiwan pine Pinus taiwanesis, Chinese little-leaf box tree Buxus sinica var. parvifolia, common Chinese birch Cunninghmia lanceolata, Chinese cedar Cryptomeria fortunei, Masson pine P. Massoniana, etc. The floral diversity of plants in Mount Wuyi area includes 284 families, 1,107 genera and 2,888 species of higher plants. 28 species are listed in the Red paper of China's plants, along with 13 rare and 15 endangered species (IUCN Red List Criteria for Endangered). The survey of plants over last decades found 57 new species of higher plants, 44 of them are endemic. Among rare relic species are Taiwan hemlock Tsuga formosana, Chinese yew Taxus sinensis, Chinese tulip tree Liriodendron sinensis, yew Ford manglietia Manglietia fordiana, Chinese bretschneidera Bretschneidera sinensis, China cypress Glyptostrobus pensiilis, Chinese torreya Torreya grandis. A further 840 species of lower plant and fungus have been listed from the area.
Fauna
The known fauna of Mount Wuyi has received international recognition for its high diversity (Species diversity) and large numbers of rare and unusual species. In all some 5,000 species have been recorded from the area. Vertebrates number 475 species and include 23 families and 71 species of mammal; 47 families and 256 species of bird; 13 families and 73 species of reptile; 10 families and 35 species of amphibian; and 12 families and 40 species of fish. In addition some 4,635 species of insects have been described, although it is estimated that the total insect fauna could be three times this number. Among the vertebrates are some 49 species which are endemic to China and three which are endemic to this locality: the bird called David's parrotbill Paradoxornis davidianus, and two amphibians Vibrissaphora liui, Pseudoxenodon karlschmidti. Other rare and important species in the area of Mount Wuyi include: the Chinese tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis, clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa, leopard P. pardus, black muntjac Muntiacus crinifrons, mainland serow Capricornis sumatraensis, Cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti, Chinese black-backed pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti, the Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus, and the butterfly Golden Kaiserihind Teinopalpus aureus. The area is also an important site for migratory birds, and over 100 are protected by Sino-Japanese and Sino-Australian agreements.
Cultural Heritage
Archaeologists discovered evidences of human activity in this territory as early as 21st century BC. Since that time, different stages in history have left many cultural monuments and relics. Notable among these are the extensive remains of an ancient city of the Min Yue people, discovered in 1958, and dating back over 2300 years. Other important sites include cave dwellings, rock inscriptions, buildings and other architecture, and pottery.
Local Human Population
There are 14 administrative villages with a permanent population of 22,710 in the Mount Wuyi nominated area. The population in the core Biodiversity Protection Area is thought to be very small. They mainly engaging in the production of tea, agriculture and forestry.
Visitor and Visitor Facilities
Tourist numbers visiting the nominated area have increased from about 424,000 in 1993 to around 700,000 in 1998. Of these, some 85% are domestic tourists, and 15% are from overseas. The average stay in the area varies from 3 to 10 days. Of these visitors some 300,000 annually take rafts down the Nine Bend River gorge in a well-managed and controlled operation, while 120,000 visit the nearby "Thread of Sky" caves. Visitor access to the Biodiversity Protection Area is strictly controlled. There are several museums, memorial hall, painting academy, shopping facilities, hotels, viewing points, medical and rescue services nearby, but these are restricted to the "Tourist Service Area" outside the nominated area.
Scientific Research and Facilities
The China's Biodiversity Research Report determined Mount Wuyi to be a key area of biodiversity protection in China. Since 1873 domestic and foreign zoologists and botanists have collected nearly 1,000 new specimens of animals and plants, including 780 specimen of insects, 100 specimen of vertebrates, 60 new types of plants. Ongoing research work has been further expanded since nomination of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and some research finance has been provided through the GEF.
Conservation Value
The area has what is probably the largest and best-preserved area humid subtropical native forest in the world. Of particular importance is the very high levels of biodiversity and the significant number of threatened species.
Conservation Management
Development plans for protected areas in the territory are created for the coming 20 years. Plans adopt scientific management measures by strengthening surveys and studies, bringing international experience, technical exchange and contacts. Government and management organizations developed special plans or schemes that oriented to support ecological tourism, strengthening of the monitoring (Environmental monitoring and assessment) and public awareness in villages within and adjacent to the territory. Monitoring of wildlife and vegetation, tourism and local communities is in operation.
Management Constraints
The extensive buffer zone around the nominated area is important as the fast social and economic development (Patterns of economic growth and development) of the surrounding villages and communities will inevitably place increasing pressure on surrounding lands and pose a potential threat to Mount Wuyi with its rich resources. Growing tourism, water and air pollution (Air pollution emissions) may threaten the site, although they are strictly controlled at the present time. The area is also affected by floods during the rainy season.
Staff
275 staff including 145 professionals and technical personnel, 130 maintenance and management personnel.
Budget
No information.
IUCN Management Category
- Wuyi Shan Nature Reserve IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
- Wuyi Shan Scenic and Historic Interest Area V (Protected Landscape or Seascape)
- World Heritage Site -Cultural landscape, natural/cultural property
Further Reading
- China Biodiversity Conservation Plan (1994). Beijing. National Environmental Protection Agency. 106pp.
- IUCN Technical Evaluation (1999, in litt.) World Heritage Nomination - IUCN Technical Evaluation. Mount Wuyi (China).
- Li Wenhua and Zhao Xianying (1989). China's Nature reserves. Beiging.191pp. ISBN: 7119004964.
- Nomination of the Mount Wuyi natural site for inclusion in the World Heritage List (1998). 154pp.
- Xiyang, T. (1988). Living treasures: An Odyssey through China's extraordinary nature reserves. ISBN: 0553052365.
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