Designation date: 11/01/2002 Ramsar Site no. 1151 Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) 2006-2008 version Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 7, 2nd edition, as amended by COP9 Resolution IX.1 Annex B). A 3rd edition of the Handbook, incorporating these amendments, is in preparation and will be available in 2006. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. DD MM YY Designation date Site Reference Number 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: Name: Hecheng Yi Institution: Bureau of Nan Dongting Lake Nature Reserve. Address: 165 North Kangfu Road, Yiyang City, Hunan Province, China Tel: +86-(0)737-4213392 Fax: +86-(0)737-4213392 E-mail: [email protected] 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: October 10, 2007 3. Country: The People’s Republic of China 4. Name of the Ramsar site: Nan Dongting Wetland and Waterfowl Nature Reserve 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only): a) Designation of a new Ramsar site; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site √ 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged. √ Or If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately; or ii) the boundary has been extended; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately; or ii) the area has been extended; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note: If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: Due to the damming of the Three Gorges Project, the water level of Nan Dongting Lake descended. The Ramsar Criterions remain unchanged. 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines, for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ii) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) "; √ iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables. b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. The boundary of the site is unchanged, which is the same as the Nan Dongting Lake Nature Reserve. It lies between the two shores of the Yangtze River, holding outlets of Xiang River in the east and Zi River in the South. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. Center: 28°50’N, 112°40′E Extent: 28°35′-29°10′N, 112°19′-112°57′E 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. The Nan Dongting Wetland and Waterfowl Nature Reserve lies in the southwest part of Dongting Lake, being located in Yiyang City, Hunan Province, which is 25 kilometers away from Yiyang City. 10. Elevation: (in meters: average and/or &) Average: 30 m; maximum: 33.5 m; minimum: 28.5m 11. Area: (in hectares) 168, 000 ha 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. This site is located in the south of Dongting Lake, the biggest freshwater lakes in the midstream plain of the Yangtze River. The reserve was established in 1997 with a total area of 168 000 ha. The reserve lies across Yuanjiang City and Ziyang Region. Lots of ponds and rivers, warm weather, abundant rainfall and rich biodiversity are represented in the site. According to investigations, there are 23 beast species under 13 families, 164 bird species (belonging to 43 families of 16 orders), 29 reptiles species under 8 families, 11 fish species under 23 families, 8 amphibians species under 3 families, 863 plant species (under 475 genera of 154 families) live here, including 6 national first-class protected bird species, such as white crane, hooded crane, white stork, black stork, great bustard and scaly-sided merganser. The rich natural resources compose a special ecosystem in the Nan Dongting Lake Nature Reserve. At the same time, it is an important migrating route way of Northeast Asia. In addition, this site plays an important role in flood regulation the Yangtze River as well as regional economic development. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification for each Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criterion 2: There are 16 species in the IUCN Red List, including 1 critically endangered species, 6 endangered species, and 9 vulnerable bird species. Species Latin Name IUCN Category Grus leucogeranus CR Anser cygnoides EN Tringa guttifer EN Ciconia boyciana EN Eurynorhynchus pygmeus EN Acipenser sinensis EN Platalea minor EN Grus vipio VU Coturnicops exquisitus VU Mergus squamatus VU Aythy baeri VU Grus monacha a baeri VU Anas Formosa VU Otis tarda VU Anser erythropus VU Branta ruficollis VU Criterion 3: The site is an important inland wetland in the subtropical regions. It holds rich biodiversity, particularly a great abundance of waterfowls. According to investigations, 118 species of waterfowls inhabit or winter in this site. The major types of wetland include the artificial wetlands, mudflats, open waters and grass marsh. Criterion 5: This site provides habitats for 118 species of waterfowls, the total individuals of which are 50 000-80 000 (1997-2006). According to the survey in 2006, there are 66800 individuals of 32 waterfowl species. Criterion 6: There were 7 species of waterfowls recorded in 1997-2006 winter waterbird survey, exceeding 1% of the global abundance (the table below). Scientific name Abundance 1% Abundance Phalacrocorax carbo 1800 1000 Anser fabalis 6230 800 Anser albifrons 8430 1800 Anser erythropus 5280 200 Anas falcata 1820 350 Grus grus 90 110 Recurvirostra avosetta 1600 1000 15. Biogeography (required when Criteria 1 and/or 3 and /or certain applications of Criterion 2 are applied to the designation): Name the relevant biogeographic region that includes the Ramsar site, and identify the biogeographic regionalisation system that has been applied. a) biogeographic region: Central China region, Sino-India subdivision, Oriental realm b) biogeographic regionalisation scheme (include reference citation): The Biogeography of Fauna in China (Zhang Rongzu, 1999). 16. Physical features of the site: Describe, as appropriate, the geology, geomorphology; origins - natural or artificial; hydrology; soil type; water quality; water depth, water permanence; fluctuations in water level; tidal variations; downstream area; general climate, etc. Geology and geomorphology: The site is located in the midstream area of the Yangtze River. In the late Mesozoic Era, the Yanshan Mountain movement corrupted, under the alluvial effects of Yangtze River, Xiang River, Zi River, Yuan River and Li River, the geosyncline crust is covered by the remnants of the rivers and the lakes gradually form flat lake basin. Origin: The site includes natural and artificial wetland. The natural wetland is the flat lake basin formed by the alluvial effects of Yangtze River, Xiang River, Zi River, Yuan River, and Li River. The artificial wetland is the farm or ponds formed by reclaimed marshlands. Hydrology: The rainfall is abundant in the site. The mean surface runoff is 973 million m3. There is 224.5billion m3-water passing through the site every year.