Current view: Text account
Site description (2009 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
Non-bird biodiversity: The area supports Psephurus gladius, Acipenser sinenis and Neophocaenoides.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
East Dongting Hu Nature Reserve was established in 1982, and upgraded to a national nature reserve (190,000 ha) in 1994; this reserve was designated in 1992 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. South Donting Hu Nature Reserve (168,000 ha) was established at the provincial-level in 1987 and subsequently upgraded to a national nature reserve; this reserve was designated in 2002 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site). Mupinghu (West Dongting Hu) Nature Reserve (26,700 ha) was established at the provincial-level in 1998 and subsequently upgraded to a national nature reserve; this reserve was designated in 2002 as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ (or Ramsar site).
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.
