Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan

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Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
Consisting of eight geographical clusters of protected areas within the boundaries of the
Three Parallel Rivers National Park, in the mountainous north-west of Yunnan Province, the
!" million hectare site features sections of the upper reaches of three of the great rivers of
Asia# the Yangt$e %&insha', (ekong and )alween run roughl* parallel, north to south,
through steep gorges which, in places, are +,,,, m deep and are bordered b* glaciated
peaks more than -,,,, m high! The site is an epicentre of Chinese biodiversit*! .t is also one
of the richest temperate regions of the world in terms of biodiversit*!
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Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas 1 2o 3on Chiu
4incent
5utstanding 6niversal 4alue
Brief synthesis
7ocated in the mountainous north-west of Yunnan Province in China, the Three Parallel
Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is a natural serial propert* consisting of 8 protected
areas, grouped into eight clusters! The Propert* contains an outstanding diversit* of
landscapes, such as deep-incised river gorges, lu9uriant forests, towering snow-clad
mountains, glaciers, and alpine karst, reddish sandstone landforms %Danxia, lakes and
meadows over vast vistas! The !" million hectare site features sections of the upper
reaches of three of the great rivers of Asia# the Yangt$e %&insha', (ekong and )alween
which run appro9imatel* parallel, north to south, through steep gorges which, in places, are
+,,,, m deep and are bordered b* glaciated peaks more than -,,,, m high! The propert*
spans a large portion of the 3engduan (ountains, which is the ma:or arc curving into
.ndochina from the eastern end of the 3imala*as! ;eing located in the convergent regions of
the three world<s ma:or biogeographic realms, the propert* is in an epicentre of Chinese
biodiversit*! .t ma* also harbour the richest biodiversit* among the temperate areas of the
world!
Criterion (vii)# The deep, parallel gorges of the &insha, 7ancang and Nu &iang are the
outstanding natural feature of the propert*= while large sections of the three rivers lie :ust
outside the propert* boundaries, the river gorges are nevertheless the dominant scenic
element in the area! 3igh mountains are ever*where, with the glaciated peaks of the (eili,
;aima and 3aba )now (ountains providing a spectacular scenic sk*line! The (ing*ong>ia
?lacier is a notable natural phenomenon, descending to @",, m altitude from (t 2awagebo
%-"A, m', and is claimed to be the glacier descending to the lowest altitude for such a low
latitude %@BC N' in the northern hemisphere! 5ther outstanding scenic landforms are the
alpine karst %especiall* the <stone moon< in the (oon (ountain )cenic Area above the Nu
&iang ?orge' and the <tortoise shell< weathering of the alpine 0an9ia!
Criterion (viii)# The propert* is of outstanding value for displa*ing the geological histor* of
the last 8, million *ears associated with the collision of the .ndian Plate with the Durasian
Plate, the closure of the ancient Teth*s )ea, and the uplifting of the 3imala*a Range and the
Tibetan Plateau! These were ma:or geological events in the evolution of the land surface of
Asia and the* are on-going! The diverse rock t*pes within the propert* record this histor*
and, in addition, the range of karst, granite monolith, and 0an9ia sandstone landforms in the
alpine $one include some of the best of their t*pe in the mountains of the world!
Criterion (ix)# The dramatic e9pression of ecological processes in the Three Parallel Rivers
propert* has resulted from a mi9 of geological, climatic and topographical effects! /irst, the
location of the area within an active orographic belt has resulted in a wide range of rock
substrates from igneous %four t*pes' through to various sedimentar* t*pes including
limestones, sandstones and conglomerates! An e9ceptional range of topographical features -
from gorges to karst to glaciated peaks -- is associated with the propert* being at a Ecollision
pointE of tectonic plates! Add the fact that the area was a Pleistocene refugium and is located
at a biogeographical convergence $one %i!e! with temperate and tropical elements' and the
ph*sical foundations for evolution of its high biodiversit* are all present! Along with the
landscape diversit* with a steep gradient of almost -,,,m vertical, a monsoon climate
affects most of the area and provides another favourable ecological stimulus that has
allowed the full range of temperate Palearctic biomes to develop!
Criterion (x)# Northwest Yunnan is the area of richest biodiversit* in China and ma* be the
most biologicall* diverse temperate region on earth! The propert* encompasses most of the
natural habitats in the 3engduan (ountains, one of the world<s most important remaining
areas for the conservation of the earth<s biodiversit*! The outstanding topographic and
climatic diversit* of the propert*, coupled with its location at the :uncture of the Dast Asia,
)outheast Asia, and Tibetan Plateau, biogeographical realms and its function as a N-)
corridor for the movement of plants and animals %especiall* during the ice ages', marks it as
a trul* uni>ue landscape, which still retains a high degree of natural character despite
thousands of *ears of human habitation! As the last remaining stronghold for an e9tensive
suite of rare and endangered plants and animals, the propert* is of 5utstanding 6niversal
4alue!
Integrity
The Three Parallel Rivers Propert* is composed of 8 different protected areas which have
been grouped into eight clusters, each providing a representative sample of the full range of
the biological and geological diversit* of the 3engduan (ountains! /ollowing boundar*
modifications accepted in @,,, the core areas cover an area of F-,,,BA ha, and each
cluster is surrounded b* a buffer $one covering a further B-,A+ ha The :ustification for
inscribing a series of areas to represent this diversit* is due to the fact that the area has
been modified b* human activities over thousands of *ears= note that in @,,+ some +8,,,,
people lived inside the propert*, with +-,8,, residing inside the core $one! 3owever, much of
the site is still relativel* undisturbed and continues to perform its ecos*stem functions! This is
partiall* e9plained b* the inaccessibilit* of the higher slopes and the relativel* light impact of
the subsistence activities of the resident populations!
The boundar*Garea ratio for some of the components is e9tremel* high, and connectivit*
between the component parts is also an issue! )ome of the component parts are separated
b* precipitous river gorges, high mountain glacial divides andGor human settlement! )uch a
condition will result in a certain biological isolation, and options for linking the units via wildlife
corridors would considerabl* help to enhance the integrit* of the overall site!
!rotection and management re"uirements
The main challenges facing the propert* include tourism development within the propert*
and other human activities in ad:acent areas! The principal management re>uirements are to
establish and maintain the management plans for all eight clusters of protected areas and
scenic areas= regulate and control human activities in ad:acent areas, including h*dropower
development and mining= assure effective on-site boundar* demarcation= and to build
management capacit*, to protect and conserve the 5utstanding 6niversal 4alue of the
propert*!
The 8 different protected areas that make up the propert* all have a range of different legal
conservation designations, including national and provincial level nature reserves and
national scenic areas, thus are sub:ect to different national and provincial laws and
regulations! The coordinating and management bod* for the Propert* is the Yunnan Three
Parallel Rivers (anagement ;ureau, which has offices in 0i>ing, Nu:iang and 7i:iang
prefectures, as well as representation in offices and stations in more than @, counties! This
(anagement ;ureau is responsible for the overall revision and improvement to the master
plan of the entire propert*!
!)ubstantial funding is provided b* the central government each *ear for the da*-to-da*
management of the propert*, with a large special fund earmarked for formulating the master
plans of the site! Central government has also provided special support to the conservation
and management facilities for the propert*! 7ocal government has provided funding for
e9hibition facilities, eco-environment protection and biodiversit* conservation, funding which
is growing steadil* and proportionatel* with the overall funding! The government of Yunnan
Province will continue to mobili$e funding from various sources for environmental protection,
environmental management, ecological compensation, use of new energ* sources and
research speciall* focusing on strengthening environmental protection, ecological
construction and biodiversit* conservation in northwest Yunnan! (anagement of the propert*
will also benefit from provincial funding for biodiversit* conservation targeted at capacit*
building, formulation of management plans, scientific research, demonstrations, publicit* and
awareness education!
7ong 0escription
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is situated in south-west China! The site
consists of 8 protected areas %in eight geographical clusters' in the mountainous north-west
of Yunnan Province!
D9tending +, km from north to south and B, km from east to west, the site encompasses
large sections of three of the great rivers of Asia, the Yangtse %&insha', (ekong %7acang' and
)alween %Nu &iang', which run parallel from north to south through the nominated area for
over +,, km!
The world heritage area lies over four parallel north-south trending mountain ranges that
reach a height in e9cess of A,,,, m above sea level in altitude! These ranges are part of the
3engduan (ountains located be*ond the eastern end of the 3imala*as, which have been
corrugated and uplifted b* the pressures of crustal folding!
The site is dominated b* a huge composite orogenic belt that shows the signs of powerful
crustal movements in the past! Notabl* is the compression of the edge of the Durasian plate
b* the underl*ing .ndian plate which is being subducted along the line of the 7ancang River
fault! The resulting s>uee$e created vast thrust-nappes= violent shearing and uplift into high
mountains, through which pre-e9isting rivers continue to cut, resulting in the e9treme vertical
relief which characteri$es the area! )ome of the results are visible in comple9 patterns of
folded rock and unusual mineral formations!
The site is also an e9cellent representative of alpine landscapes and their evolution! The
eastern mountains, plateaus and valle*s are covered with meadows, waterfalls and streams
and hundreds of small glacial lakes left b* glacial erosion processes!
The land area encompassed b* Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is one of
the world<s least-disturbed temperate ecological areas, an epicentre of Chinese endemic
species and a natural gene pool of great richness! .t supports the richest diversit* of higher
plants of China, owing to its altitudinal range and its position in a climatic corridor between
north and south, it includes the e>uivalents of seven climatic $ones# southern, central and
northern subtropical with dr* hot valle*s, warm, cool and cold temperate, and cold $ones!
5wing to its function as a refuge during the last .ce Age and its location near the boundaries
of three ma:or biogeographic realms, Dast Asia, )outh-Dast Asia and the Tibetan plateau, the
park has @@ vegetation subt*pes and -,,,, plant species!
The fauna is a comple9 mosaic of Palaearctic, oriental and local endemic species adapted to
almost all the inland climates from southern subtropical to frigid, e9cept for desert, although
there are hot dr* valle*s! The area is believed to support over @8H of the world<s animal
species, man* being relict and endangered! There is a concentration of the countr*<s rare
and endangered animals within the nominated area! ;eing near the boundaries of the Dast
Asian, )outh-Dast Asian and Tibetan biogeographic realms, the nominated area also acts as
a corridor where several species from each realm meet and reach their limits of distribution!
.n addition there are numerous primitive animals that are relics of the ecological past,
alongside animals that have recentl* adapted to colder conditions!
)ource# 6ND)C5GC7TGI3C
)pecies
The species listed below represent a small sample of iconic andGor .6CN Red 7isted animals
and plants found in the propert*! Clicking on the number in brackets ne9t to the species will
reveal other Iorld 3eritage Properties in which a species has been identified! These species
are identified in an effort to better communicate the biological diversit* contained within
Iorld 3eritage properties inscribed under criteria i9 andGor 9!
Ailurus fulgens G Red Panda %8'
Aythya nyroca G /erruginous 0uck
Bonasa sewerzowi G Chinese ?rouse %@'
Budorcas taxicolor G Takin %A'
Chrysolophus amherstiae G 7ad* Amherst<s Pheasant
Crossoptilon crossoptilon G Ihite Dared-pheasant %@'
Cuon alpinus G 0holeGAsiatic wild dog %F'
Cupressus duclouxiana G Chinese C*press
Davidia involucrata %@'
Garrulax bieti G Ihite-speckled 7aughingthrush