Xingkai Lake Biosphere Reserve, China

The reserve is located in Xingkai Lake basin in the Sanjiang Plain, bordering Russia on the Songacha River and Daxingkai Lake respectively in the east and south. As the main ecosystems of Xingkai Lake Biosphere Reserve, wetland and forest ecosystems are like a huge reservoir providing 16 billion cubic meters of water. The reserve holds a dominant position in species and quantity as well as rare, endangered and relict species. It is known for its agricultural and industrial output. Ecotourism has been supported and promoted in recent years.

Ecological Characteristics

Xingkai Biosphere Reserve is located in Mishan City, Jixi City, southeast of Heilongjiang Province, 130km away from Jixi City and 35km away from Mishan City. On its west side is the Mount Laoye of the Changbai Mountain Ranges and on its east side is the Sikhote-Alin Range in Russia. Its topography is high in northwest and low in east with latitudes ranging from 574 meters to 68 meters. Most of its terrain units are Muling-Xingkai alluvial plain, low lacustrine plain and small areas of low hilly land as results of structural erosion of Fengmi Hill. As the main ecosystems of Xingkai Lake Biosphere Reserve, wetland and forest ecosystems are like a huge reservoir providing 16 billion cubic meters of water. The wetland ecosystem also ensures the security of ecological barriers in upper reaches of the Wusuli River.

The wetland vegetation in the Biosphere Reserve can be divided into 5 vegetation types (higher category), 9 vegetation subtypes, 28  formation-groups, 37 formations (intermediate category) and 57 associations (basic category). It holds a dominant position in species and quantity as well as rare, endangered and relict species, covering almost all species in the Sanjiang Plain. There are 414 species of vertebrate under 6 classes, 34 orders and 77 families including 40 species of animal under 6 orders and 14 families, 289 species of bird belonging to 16 orders and 53 families, 8 species of reptile under 2 orders and 3 families, 7 species of amphibian belonging to 2 orders and 4 families, 2 species of cyclostomata under 1 order and 1 family, and 68 species of fish belonging to 7 orders and 15 families in the reserve.

 

Socio-economic characteristics

The local communities within the reserve mainly include the Xingkaihu Farm, Xingkaihu Aquaculture Company and Baipaozi Township. There is a total population of 32,000, comprising Han, Hui, Korean and Manchu people with Han people accounting for 95% of the population. The Xingkaihu Farm covers an area of 139,000 hm2 and has a population of 12,000. It has under its jurisdiction 26 crop and livestock farming teams and 11 industrial, transportation and commercial enterprises. Its agricultural and industrial output value totals some 130 million yuan and annual rice production stands at 800,000 tons. The “Xingkaihu” brand rice has been labeled as one of China’s green products. The farm’s annual production of aquatic products reaches 200 tons. The farm’s paper mill exports six products to 21 countries and regions including Japan and Canada. In recent years, industries such as ecotourism, leisure tourism and agricultural tourism have been supported and promoted by the government and local communities. Infrastructure construction has been developed to ensure that the ecotourism will gradually embark on a healthy development path.

 

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Last updated: July 2019