Country/territory: China (mainland)
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 500,000 ha
Site description (2009 baseline)
The IBA is located in the climatic transition between the central and northern subtropical regions, with a mild and moist climate and well-defined seasonality. The wetlands help to regulate the water level in the Yangtze River. In the wet season the area of shallow water area is around 12,400 ha, with an area of deep water of some 53,000 ha. In the dry season the shallow water area increases to 46,000 ha, and the deep water area decreases to 19,400 ha.
Key biodiversity
Non-bird biodiversity: The area supports Psephurus gladius, Acipenser sinenis and Neophocaenoides.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dongting Hu wetlands (China (mainland)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dongting-hu-wetlands-iba-china-(mainland) on 22/11/2024.