1973年，成立(li)了利川縣水杉管理(li)站(zhan)；
1981年，恩(en)施地區(qu)行政公(gong)署(shu)批準成立星斗山自然保(bao)護區(qu)；
1982年，設立了(le)省(sheng)級(ji)小河水(shui)杉自然保護(hu)點；
1988年2月21日，湖(hu)北(bei)省人民(min)政府批準星斗山為省級森(sen)林和野生動物類型的(de)自然(ran)保(bao)護區；
2001年，恩施州政府(fu)將(jiang)星(xing)斗山自然(ran)保護區和小河(he)水杉(shan)自然(ran)保護點合并申(shen)報國家(jia)級自然(ran)保護區，重點保護小河(he)水杉(shan)原生(sheng)種群(qun)棲息地(di)和星(xing)斗山珍(zhen)稀動植物生(sheng)存環境(jing)。
2002年3月，全國人大代表聯名提出(chu)“關于要求湖北(bei)省(sheng)恩施(shi)州星斗(dou)山小河自然保護區升級為國家級自然保護區”的(de)(de)提案，得到(dao)了國家領(ling)導人和(he)有(you)關職能(neng)部(bu)門的(de)(de)高度重視和(he)支持。
2003年，歷(li)時一年，經5次評(ping)審，申報終(zhong)獲成功。6月6日，中(zhong)華人民共和國(guo)國(guo)務(wu)院辦公(gong)廳發布“國(guo)辦發[2003]54號”文件，將星(xing)斗山自(zi)(zi)然保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)晉升為國(guo)家(jia)級自(zi)(zi)然保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)。6月9日由國(guo)務(wu)院批準、國(guo)家(jia)林業局正式授牌(pai)成立“湖北星(xing)斗山國(guo)家(jia)級自(zi)(zi)然保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)”。該(gai)保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)是一個以水杉等珍(zhen)稀(xi)植物及其生境為主(zhu)要保護(hu)對象的自(zi)(zi)然保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)。
星斗(dou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)國家級自然保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)位于鄂西(xi)南利川(chuan)(chuan)市(shi)、恩施市(shi)、咸豐(feng)縣三縣市(shi)境(jing)內(nei)。保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)屬武(wu)陵(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)系(xi)北上余支和(he)(he)大巴(ba)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)系(xi)巫山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)余脈齊岳山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)向(xiang)東(dong)南的(de)延伸部(bu)分，地(di)處我國西(xi)南高山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)向(xiang)東(dong)南低山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)丘陵(ling)過渡(du)的(de)第二和(he)(he)第三階梯的(de)過渡(du)地(di)帶。境(jing)內(nei)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)巒起伏，孤峰兀(wu)立，溝(gou)壑縱橫，海(hai)拔(ba)672~1751.2m。本區(qu)地(di)勢中部(bu)高，四周(zhou)低，河(he)流(liu)(liu)分布呈典(dian)型的(de)放射狀水(shui)(shui)(shui)系(xi)，從中部(bu)順著地(di)質構成線和(he)(he)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)勢分向(xiang)四面八方(fang)流(liu)(liu)出。水(shui)(shui)(shui)系(xi)大致分為：由(you)東(dong)流(liu)(liu)入長江(jiang)(jiang)的(de)清(qing)江(jiang)(jiang)水(shui)(shui)(shui)系(xi)；分別由(you)東(dong)南、西(xi)南流(liu)(liu)入烏(wu)江(jiang)(jiang)的(de)毛壩河(he)、郁江(jiang)(jiang)的(de)烏(wu)江(jiang)(jiang)水(shui)(shui)(shui)系(xi)；向(xiang)西(xi)流(liu)(liu)入長江(jiang)(jiang)的(de)石(shi)柱河(he)；向(xiang)西(xi)北和(he)(he)東(dong)北流(liu)(liu)入長江(jiang)(jiang)的(de)建南河(he)、磨刀溪和(he)(he)梅(mei)子(zi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)的(de)長江(jiang)(jiang)水(shui)(shui)(shui)系(xi)。保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)地(di)處武(wu)陵(ling)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)脈與(yu)巫山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)脈的(de)交匯部(bu)，屬中亞熱帶大陸(lu)性季(ji)風氣候。因區(qu)內(nei)地(di)形特殊，并(bing)有大巴(ba)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)系(xi)巫山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)余脈作屏障(zhang)，第四紀冰(bing)川(chuan)(chuan)期，未受到冰(bing)川(chuan)(chuan)的(de)影響，使其成為第三紀植物的(de)“避難所”。
星(xing)(xing)斗山(shan)(shan)國家級自然保護(hu)區(qu)總面(mian)積(ji)68339h㎡（星(xing)(xing)斗山(shan)(shan)片(pian)(pian)面(mian)積(ji)42571h㎡，小河片(pian)(pian)面(mian)積(ji)25768h㎡），其中核心區(qu)21165h㎡，緩沖區(qu)14932h㎡，試驗區(qu)32242h㎡。分東部星(xing)(xing)斗山(shan)(shan)片(pian)(pian)和(he)西部小河片(pian)(pian)，屬野生(sheng)(sheng)生(sheng)(sheng)物類(lei)別野生(sheng)(sheng)植物類(lei)型自然保護(hu)區(qu)。
重(zhong)點保護珍稀(xi)動植物種群(qun)，面積(ji)42571h㎡，位于利(li)川市(shi)(shi)、咸(xian)豐縣(xian)(xian)、恩施市(shi)(shi)三縣(xian)(xian)市(shi)(shi)交界處(chu)，北緯29°57′ -30°10′，東經108°57′-109°27′，東以(yi)恩施市(shi)(shi)盛家壩(ba)鄉(xiang)(xiang)的馬鹿河為(wei)界，西(xi)至利(li)川市(shi)(shi)元寶(bao)鄉(xiang)(xiang)的紅椿溝，南起咸(xian)豐縣(xian)(xian)黃(huang)金洞鄉(xiang)(xiang)的利(li)咸(xian)路，北至利(li)川市(shi)(shi)毛壩(ba)鄉(xiang)(xiang)的黃(huang)泥壩(ba)；
重點保(bao)護水杉原生種群及(ji)其模式(shi)標本產地，面積25768h㎡，位于利川市境內，北緯30°04′-30°14′，東經108°31′-108°48′，東起忠路(lu)鎮的(de)老(lao)屋基，西至(zhi)汪(wang)營鎮的(de)高筍(sun)塘(tang)，南起忠路(lu)鎮龍塘(tang)鋪，北至(zhi)汪(wang)營鎮的(de)交椅臺。
星斗山(shan)國家級自然保護區屬自然生態系統(tong)(tong)類中的(de)森(sen)林生態系統(tong)(tong)類型自然保護區，主要保護對象(xiang)為(wei)中亞熱帶森(sen)林生態系統(tong)(tong)以及(ji)水杉原(yuan)生群落和(he)珙桐、臺灣(wan)杉等珍稀(xi)野生植物(wu)及(ji)野生動物(wu)。
地處(chu)我國西南(nan)高山向東南(nan)低丘(qiu)陵過(guo)渡(du)地帶，因有(you)大(da)巴山系巫山余脈作屏障，而成(cheng)為(wei)第(di)三紀(ji)植物(wu)“避難(nan)所”。保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)內(nei)植被豐富而復雜，集中保(bao)存了(le)大(da)量(liang)古老孑遺、瀕危珍稀(xi)(xi)植物(wu)和野生(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)。據調查(cha)，整(zheng)個保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)境內(nei)有(you)維管束植物(wu)201科、843屬、2033種(zhong)(zhong)，其中國家(jia)一(yi)級(ji)重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)植物(wu)水杉、珙(gong)桐、光葉珙(gong)桐、紅(hong)豆杉、南(nan)方紅(hong)豆杉、銀杏(xing)、鐘萼木(mu)、莼(chun)菜8種(zhong)(zhong)，國家(jia)二級(ji)重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)植物(wu)禿杉等29種(zhong)(zhong)。起源(yuan)古老珍稀(xi)(xi)瀕危植物(wu)達40余種(zhong)(zhong)，屬世(shi)界性、全國性特有(you)樹種(zhong)(zhong)7種(zhong)(zhong)。境內(nei)有(you)野生(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)1746種(zhong)(zhong)，其中列入國家(jia)一(yi)級(ji)重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)動(dong)物(wu)有(you)金錢豹、云(yun)豹、金雕、林麝(she)4種(zhong)(zhong)，國家(jia)二級(ji)重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)動(dong)物(wu)46種(zhong)(zhong)。
屬云貴(gui)高原(yuan)東北(bei)延(yan)伸(shen)地(di)帶，處于武陵(ling)山(shan)脈與巫山(shan)山(shan)脈的(de)(de)交匯部，因四面(mian)高山(shan)環抱形成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)一封閉長(chang)形山(shan)谷，幸免(mian)第三紀(ji)冰川侵襲，而成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為水(shui)杉(shan)原(yuan)生(sheng)種群及(ji)其模式標本產地(di)。20世紀(ji)40年(nian)代(dai)，中(zhong)國(guo)林學界在小河片(pian)內的(de)(de)謀道鎮(zhen)磨(mo)刀溪首次發(fa)現(xian)生(sheng)存的(de)(de)天然水(shui)杉(shan)并鑒定(ding)命名，被視為近代(dai)生(sheng)物學上的(de)(de)重要(yao)發(fa)現(xian)，譽為“活(huo)化石(shi)”和植物中(zhong)的(de)(de)“國(guo)寶”，并成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)立(li)了“中(zhong)國(guo)水(shui)杉(shan)保護(hu)委員會”。小河片(pian)內分布有水(shui)杉(shan)原(yuan)生(sheng)母樹(shu)5746株，至今(jin)仍保存著古水(shui)杉(shan)原(yuan)生(sheng)群落。謀道溪水(shui)杉(shan)王（系I號水(shui)杉(shan)）有“天下第一杉(shan)”之美稱，小平同志1992年(nian)南巡時曾提(ti)及(ji)此樹(shu)。莼菜(cai)在中(zhong)國(guo)國(guo)內除杭(hang)州(zhou)有少量(liang)栽(zai)培外，僅產于小河片(pian)內的(de)(de)福寶山(shan)。
本區植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)區系成(cheng)份(fen)復(fu)雜、物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)資源(yuan)豐富，且古老孑(jie)遺植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類多(duo)，為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)中國重要(yao)的(de)物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)基因庫(ku)之一。據(ju)初步(bu)調查，有(you)(you)(you)維管束植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)200科843屬2033種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，其中蕨類植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)30科59屬132種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，裸子植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)8科22屬28種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，被子植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)162科762屬1873種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，列(lie)(lie)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)國家(jia)Ⅰ級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護的(de)野生(sheng)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)水杉(shan)、珙(gong)桐(tong)、莼(chun)菜、南方(fang)紅(hong)豆(dou)杉(shan)等(deng)8種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，列(lie)(lie)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)國家(jia)Ⅱ級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護的(de)野生(sheng)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)臺灣杉(shan)、黃(huang)杉(shan)、榧樹、水青樹等(deng)29種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。脊椎動物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)29目(mu)(mu)90科378種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，其中獸類8目(mu)(mu)24科72種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，鳥類17目(mu)(mu)46科226種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，兩棲類2目(mu)(mu)9科38種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，爬(pa)行類2目(mu)(mu)11科42種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。昆蟲有(you)(you)(you)178科1368種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。列(lie)(lie)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)國家(jia)Ⅰ級(ji)重點(dian)(dian)保(bao)(bao)護的(de)野生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)豹、云豹、金雕3種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，列(lie)(lie)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)國家(jia)Ⅱ級(ji)重點(dian)(dian)保(bao)(bao)護的(de)野生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)獼猴、穿(chuan)山甲、黑熊、中華虎鳳(feng)蝶等(deng)47種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
星斗(dou)山國家級自然保(bao)(bao)護區是(shi)(shi)孑遺植物(wu)水(shui)(shui)(shui)杉的(de)(de)(de)模式(shi)標本產地(di)，也是(shi)(shi)世界(jie)上現存的(de)(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)(shui)杉原生群落集中分布區，具有極高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)典型性，對研究(jiu)古生物(wu)、古氣候、古地(di)理(li)等均有著極為重要的(de)(de)(de)科學價值。同(tong)時還是(shi)(shi)清江的(de)(de)(de)源(yuan)頭(tou)，動植物(wu)生長繁育的(de)(de)(de)天(tian)堂，其(qi)巨大的(de)(de)(de)種質資源(yuan)保(bao)(bao)護、蓄水(shui)(shui)(shui)、保(bao)(bao)土、保(bao)(bao)肥、減災增產、調節氣候等功能(neng)，正在其(qi)范圍內及周邊地(di)區全面發(fa)揮。
我心明亮 
