1. Giant salamanders and fish stocks
1.1. Number of giant salamanders (2023)=20,963
1.2 Based on data from 31 fish sampling sites, the study found:
• 5 sites (16.13%) with "rich" fish
diversity,
• 20 sites (64.51%) with "good" fish
diversity,
• 5 sites(16.13%) with "average" fish
diversity,
• 1 site (3.23%) with "poor" fish
diversity.
1.1 The population of wild giant
salamanders in the reserve has
increased:
Over 2,000 tails in 2008; Approximately 7,360 tailsin 2018; Diversity index evaluation:
• 2.6~3.5 rich
• 1.6~2.6 good
• 0.6~1.6 fair
• <0.6 poor
1. Giant Salamander Population Growth:
The reserve's giant salamander population has
surged by 184.8% since
2018. These salamanders
exhibit high genetic diversity, with distinct
branches corresponding to
different species, showing
geographic differentiation.
Over 90% of the watershed
supports fish diversity at or
above average, making it a
vital habitat for aquatic life
and a key food source for
the salamanders. The reserve's efforts have
ensured the species'reproduction and survival, indicating a capacity to
maintain their propagation
conditions
2. Animal and plant resources
2.1. In 2023, the reserve had 1,692 wild species, with 83 under key protection. The
animal survey identified 523 species, 74 of which are nationally protected, including
309 birds, 88 fish, 40 mammals, 37 reptiles,and 49 amphibians.
2.2. The plant survey found 1,169 species, 9 of which are nationally protected, comprising 32 ferns, 69 planktonic plants, and 1,068 seed plants.
2.3. The reserve protects 20,963 giant salamanders, 21 Chinese mergansers, and 102 mandarin ducks.
"2024 Self-Assessment Report".
2.1 Wild animal and plant species
have increased:
In 2018, a survey confirmed a total
of 1,630 species of flora and fauna within the reserve, with 38 species under national key protection. The subtotal for animal resources is
491 species, of which 35 are under national key protection. Compared to the data from 2023, there are significant differences in the number of fish species (76), bird species (110), and amphibian
species (23).
2.2. The subtotal for plant resources is 1,139 species, with 1,061 species being angiosperms,
and only three species of wild
plants under national second-level protection: wild soybean, beech, and golden buckwheat.
2.3. The main protected species
include: 7,360 giant salamanders,
11 Chinese mergansers, and 90 mandarin ducks.
2.1. Flora and Fauna Resource
Increase: Since 2018, the reserve has seen a 3.8% increase in flora
and fauna species, totaling 62 new species, and a 52.7% rise in key protected species. This
suggests effective conservation
strategies. The reserve recognizes the importance of
key species in the ecosystem
and has incorporated wild population restoration into
long-term plans, implementing
related research and conservation activities.
3.1 The clustering index calculated with
Fragstats 4.2 for 2023 is 68.15%.
3.2 The reserve's area is based on the total water surface area of the main and
tributary streams. The declared area is
14,285 hectares, and the mapped area is 10,235.68 hectares. The natural wetland
area is 8,268.56 hectares, which remains unchanged from 2018 to 2023, accounting
for 57.88% of the declared area and 80.78% of the mapped area.
3.3 The area occupied by hardened shorelines and bridges is 133.19 hectares.
With an 8-meter shoreline width, the artificial shoreline length is 166,462.5
meters, and the natural shoreline accounts for 94.45% (2023).
3.4. The reserve's carbon sequestration in
2023 is 14,093.8 tons, a 3.65% increase from the previous year.
3.1 The Natural Ecosystem Clustering Index, calculated with
Fragstats 4.2, was 68.11% in 2018.
3.2 The proportion of natural
wetlands within the reserve was
57.88% based on declared area and 80.78% based on mapped area
in 2018.
3.3 The natural shoreline
preservation rate was 94.43% in 2018, with artificial shorelines
accounting for 5.57% of the total.
3.4 The reserve's carbon sequestration capacity in 2018 was 13,597.2 tons.
3.1. Ecological Protection
Achievements:
The 2023 data confirms the
reserve's success in ecological
protection, with stable and slightly increased key indicators
like the clustering index, carbon
sequestration, and natural
shoreline preservation rate. The
high and stable proportion of
natural wetlands since 2018
demonstrates the reserve's
consistent and strategic
management and its commitment to wetland
ecosystem protection,
supporting regional biodiversity
and ecological balance.
Future Plans: The reserve is
committed to continuing
ecological protection measures,
enhancing ecosystem
connectivity and integrity, and
ensuring long-term, effective
protection of these valuable
natural assets.
1. Conservation Advocacy and
Nature Education
Zhangjiajie City, home to the
reserve, is an internationally
famous tourist destination that
welcomes millions of domestic
and international visitors each
year. This influx of tourism
provides an excellent
opportunity to increase the
area's profile. The protection of the giant salamander in this region has broadened China's
international influence in
conserving species and
preserving biodiversity.
Moreover, it has played an active role in fostering a scientific understanding of
nature and promoting
ecological awareness within the
community.
1.1. The reserve leverages both
physical and digital platforms for conservation promotion and nature education. Online, it fully utilizes WeChat public accounts and short video platforms to enhance the
dissemination of policies and
ecological knowledge related to the
reserve; offline, it installs signs and slogans in key locations within the reserve to convey the concept of
protecting the giant salamander and
the ecological environment. This approach has played an active role in
helping communities gain a scientific
understanding of nature and
establishing ecological conservation
awareness.
1.2. The reserve actively engages in social practice services. It reaches out
to "scenic areas, fishing areas,
communities, and school districts," regularly organizing activities such as knowledge lectures, science
popularization exhibitions, and field trips for the public, popularizing the
ecological value and protection
significance of the giant salamander among community residents.
1.3. The reserve actively promotes
media publicity to expand its online influence. It produces promotional
animations, videos, and short videos,
participates in the filming of
ecological public welfare
advertisements by mainstream media such as CCTV, China National
Geography, and Hunan TV, and
continuously expands the influence of
the reserve's ecological protection
practices.
In 2020, Zhangjiajie City's attractions
received a total of 49.492 million
domestic and foreign tourists.
1.1. In terms of nature education, no quantitative
indicators or thresholds have been established.
1. In recent years, the Giant
Salamander Center has achieved
significant success in conservation
education by carrying out
promotional and educational
activities in scenic areas,
communities, and schools. The number of people reached by these
conservation education activities has been increasing year by year.
The ecological and environmental
awareness of visitors, community
residents, especially young people, has been significantly improved, and
the promotional and educational
work has been highly effective. The general improvement in people's
awareness of conservation has laid a
solid foundation for better
conservation work.
In the future, in the field of
promotion and education, the Giant
Salamander Center plansto gradually build the reserve into a comprehensive demonstration area with first-class social influence through scientific and rational planning. This will play an important
role in promoting the integrated
development of local communities
2. Natural Landscape Resources
Zhangjiajie City, known as one
of China's core tourist cities, is
famous globally for its unique and abundant landscape tourism resources. The area boasts a multitude of natural
landscapes and historical relics,
with a richness of resources that is extremely rare
domestically.
2.1 In 2022, Zhangjiajie City had a total of 14 national-level tourist areas (points), including 2 with a 5A rating, 6
with a 4A rating, and 6 with a 3A rating.
2.2 In 2023, Zhangjiajie City's
attractions received a total of 36.3904
million domestic and foreign tourists,
and in the first half of 2024, it received
20.6447 million domestic and foreign visitors.
2.1 The number of tourist areas (points) in Zhangjiajie City
increased to 12 national-level
tourist areas (points) in 2020.
2.2 In 2015, Zhangjiajie City's
scenic spots received a total of
35.901 million domestic and
foreign tourists.
2.1. Despite the global pandemic,
Zhangjiajie City's tourism industry showed resilience, with visitor numbers increasing slightly from
35.901 million in 2015 to 36.3904
million in 2023. In the first half of
2024, the city received 20.6447 million
visitors, indicating a recovery and
upward trend. The number of
national-level tourist attractions in
Zhangjiajie also grew from 12 in 2020 to 14 in 2022, including 2 top-rated
5A sites, reflecting efforts in tourism
development and sustainable use of natural resources. Overall, Zhangjiajie's commitment to
sustainable tourism has preserved its
ecosystem services and cultural heritage, enhancing its reputation as
a sought-after destination.
1. Purify water sources (The reserve is entirely composed of water areas, encompassing 76.5% of
Zhangjiajie's water bodies, with 745 rivers spanning over 3000
kilometers. Its capacity for freshwater conservation and
purification is key to
demonstrating the reserve's vital
ecosystem services.)
1.1 From 2018 to 2022, water quality
assessments showed that
approximately 11% of single-factor results were Class III, while 89% were
Class II. In comprehensive assessments,
3% were Class III and 97% were Class II.
Grey relational evaluations indicated one instance each of Class II and III,
with the rest being Class I. Overall, the
proportion of main water bodies with
Class I-II quality ranged from 89% to 97%.
1.2 (2023) The total water conservation
volume of TQ is 42,914,407.82 m³.
1.1 The proportion of main water bodies with Class I-II water quality
exceeds 85%.
1.2 (2018) Total water conservation volume (m³) =
40,109,840.69 m³.
1.1 Using single-factor, comprehensive factor, and grey
relational analysis on the water quality in the reserve, it is
generally indicated that the water quality in the reserve meets Class I
or II surface water standards for all indicators except for total nitrogen, with the comprehensive factor or grey relational analysis results
significantly better than the singlefactor evaluation. The water quality at the spawning sites is better than that in the river channels, and from 2018 to 2022, the water quality has been basically stable, with some
improvement trends observed at certain spawning sites and river channels. (From the "2024 Self-Assessment Report" p61)
1.2 Water conservation volume, as
an assessment indicator of the
ecosystem's water conservation
function, is closely related to precipitation, evaporation,surface runoff, and land cover types. From
2018 to 2023, the total water
conservation volume increased by 6.99%.
2. Aquatic products supply and service
2.1 (2023) Aquatic biodiversity in terms of species,numbers, and biomass:
• Fish: In the Li and Yuan river
basins, there are a total of 88
fish species across 9 orders, 19 families, and 59 genera.
• Benthic fauna: A total of 81
taxonomic units of benthic animals were found, belonging
to 3 phyla, 6 classes, 47 families,
65 genera, and 81 taxonomic
units, with a total count of 9,014
individuals.
• Zooplankton: There are 30
species in total, including 13
protozoans, 11 rotifers, 3
cladocerans, and 3 copepods.
• Phytoplankton: There are 69
species in total, belonging to 6
phyla and 53 genera. This
includes 10 genera and 13
species of cyanobacteria, 1
genus and 1 species of
cryptophyta, 2 genera and 2
species of dinoflagellates, 19 genera and 23 species of
diatoms, 2 genera and 2 species of euglenoids, and 19 genera and 28 species of green algae.
2.2 Economic benefits of the
giant salamander industry in
2023:
• Total economic benefit of
commercial giant salamanders
(in ten thousand yuan) = 706.3
million yuan.
• Production of commercial giant salamanders before 2023 (in kg) = 808,000 kg.
• Total annual increase in income and savings (in ten thousand yuan) = 42.65 million yuan.
• Pure income of the industry in
2023 = 110.2 million yuan.
2.1 (2015) Aquatic biodiversity in
terms of species, numbers, and
biomass:
• Fish: 5 orders, 16 families, 76 species
• Benthic animals: Large crustaceans 25 species, mollusks 45 species, aquatic insects 85 species
• Zooplankton: 52 species
• Phytoplankton: Algae from 5 phyla, 41 genera
2.2 Aggregated business data from
9 giant salamander farming enterprises show:
• Total economic benefit of commercial giant
salamanders in 2021 (10,000 yuan) = 59.61 million yuan
• Production of commercial
giant salamanders before 2021 (kg) = 579,000 kg
2.1 From 2015 to 2024, the
Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander
National Nature Reserve in Hunan made significant progress in
biodiversity, with an increase in
fish species to 88, 81 benthic
animal taxa, and a rise in phytoplankton species to 69.
Management measures like fishing bans and restocking have boosted aquatic life.Economically, the reserve's
aquaculture has provided jobs and income for local communities and spurred tourism. The giant salamander industry saw a notable rise in economic benefits,
increasing from 59.61 million yuan in 2021 to 70.63 million yuan in 2023, a 19% growth. Production also grew by 39.55%, from 579 to 808 tons. These gains underscore
improved economic performance
and cost management.
Overall, the reserve has made impressive strides in ecological
conservation and economic
growth, setting a strong foundation for sustainable
development.
