Key Biodiversity Areas

Baima Xueshan Nature Reserve (15558)
China (mainland), Asia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Baima Xueshan Nature Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.0833, Longitude: 99.1667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2000 to 5429
Area of KBA (km2): 1900.49311
Protected area coverage (%): 94.65
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Located in south-east Dêqên County, north-western Yunnan. The IBA is in the central part of the Hengduan Shan’s Yunling ranges, with the highest summit at 5,429 m, and most of the higher parts have snow cover all year round. The Jinsha Jiang and Lanchang Jiang have cut deep river valleys (some 2,000 m deep) in the east and west of the IBA. The vegetation shows prominent vertical zonation.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Non-bird biodiversity: Nationally protected plants include Kingdonia uniflora and Kingdonia uniflora. Animals include Rhinopithecus bieti, Neofelis nebulosa, Panthra uncial, Panthera pardus, Canis lupus, Ailurus fulgens, Selenarctos thibetanus, Felis lynx, Pseudois nayaur, Macaca assamensis, Martes foina, Naemorhedus goral and Lutralutra.
Delineation rationale: Polygon provided by Conservation International (CI). Accuracy difficult to determine.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Shrubland6
Grassland17
Forest57
Other20

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsIntentional use (species being assessed is the target)Only in the future
Biological resource useLogging & wood harvestingUnintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Only in the future