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 . 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: DD MM YY Liang Xiangrong 1, Su Bo 2 1 Address: Room 501, Tianma Building, Yunnan Road, Designation date Site Reference Number Gangkou District, Fangchenggang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China Postal Code: 538001 Tel: 0086-770-3399799 Fax: 0086-770-2837266 E-mail: [email protected] 2 Address: Room 501, Tianma Building, Yunnan Road, Gangkou District, Fangchenggang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China Postal code: 538001 Tel: 0086-770-3399799 Fax: 0086-770-2837266 E-mail: [email protected] 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: September 24, 2007 3. Country: The People’s Republic of China 4. Name of the Ramsar site: Guangxi Beilun Estuary National 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’s boundary and area has not changed. 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** 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: 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 wetland is the same as the existing nature reserve. It includes 105 km coastline, which begins from the mouth of Beilun river, the boundary river between China and Vietnam on the westernmost of China's mainland coastline, and stretches eastwards to the Malanji village in the city of Fangchenggang. It covers 3 towns and 13 villages in Dongxing and the Fangcheng district of Fangchenggang. 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. 108°00 ′－108°16 ′E；21°31 ′－21°37 ′N 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. Located in Fangchenggang city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, It is 180 km far southern to Nanning, the capital city of the province. 10. Elevation: (in meters: average and/or maximum & minimum) 1 - 2 m. 11. Area: (in hectares) 3000 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. Guangxi Beilun Estuary National Nature Reserve locates in the north of Beilun River opposite Vietnam, and it belongs to the tropical monsoon climate with ample sunlight and abundant precipitation. The annual average temperature is 22 °C, and the annual average precipitation is 2500 mm. Mountains, mesa and uplands interlace with each other, and high mountains go rolling on the land side bordering upon the reserve, while the seaward side is full of estuaries and bays, as well as amplitude tidal flats. The reserve is dominated with mangroves, and it is the place where mangroves are largely distributed in China, with a relatively higher diversity of halobios and birds. It is vital for keeping ecological equilibrium for both China and Vietnam and has important international values in wetlands conservation. The wetland is one important stopover site of the flight routes of migrant birds which migrate between north east and south eastern Asia, and between Malaysia and Australia. There is a sea grass community at the low shore region of the mangroves. Moreover, an investigation in 2004 found that there exists a massive area of coral reefs in the reserve’s offshore area. Sand beach, sunlight and sea water converge at this site, it also attracts 20 minorities living here, such as Gin nationality. The charming beach, splendid minorities’ culture, abundant biodiversity make it an attractive sightseeing place. 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 1: The reserve supports 10 true mangrove species and 5 semi-mangrove species. It is the largest contiguous stretch of mangroves in China. It is rare that there are many mangrove plants growing on the tidal flat under average sea level in Pearl Bay within the site, while in the periphery low tide region, there grows Zostera marina sea grass community. Also the reserve is the only site where Heritiera litoralis forest grows on the coastal region in Guangxi Province. The mangrove ecosystem plays a substantial role in shoreline protection by alleviating flood caused by typhoon and resisting the impact of tides. Criterion 2: Within this site, there are 7 bird species of global threatened listed by IUCN. Species Latin Category in CITES CMS Class of national Chinese name name IUCN Red List Appendix Appendix protected animal Platalea Heilianpilu EN I II minor Egretta Huangzuibailu VU I II eulophotes Anser Xiaobai’eyan VU I/II erythropus Anas Formosa Hualianya VU II I Aythya baeri Qingtouqianya VU Aquila heliaca Baijiandiao VU II Larus Heizuiou VU saundersi Criterion 3: The reserve holds 240 species of large zoobenthos and 187 species of birds. Bordering upon the reserve there are more than 1400 species of higher plants in addition. Meanwhile, it is an important habitat in China for relic marine animals such as Tachypleus tridentatus (referred as Zhongguohou in Chinese), Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (referred as Yuanweihou in Chinese) . Criterion 4: This site is located on the bird migratory route of north-eastern Asia to south-eastern Asia, and of Malaysia to Australia. It is a significant breeding habitat for waterfowls. There are 96 species listed in the “Sino-Japanese Agreement on the Protection of Migratory Birds and Their Habitats” such as Platalea minor (referred as Heilianpilu in Chinese) and Anas Formosa (referred as Hualianya in Chinese), and 38 species on the protected list by the “Sino-Australia Agreement on the Protection of Migratory Birds and Their Habitats”. Criterion 8: The site is a significant place for halobios’ reproduction, migration, foraging, breeding and inhabiting. The mangrove’s tidal creeks are vital places for female limulus to reproduce, while infants of limulus scatter on mangrove’s tidal flats. The ancient relic species Lingula anatina can be found frequently on bare beach at the edge of mangroves. The mangrove stands are the foremost habitat for many economic fishery species. 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.