1998年1月經湖南省人民政府批建為省級(ji)自(zi)然(ran)保護區;
2002年(nian)1月被(bei)列入國際重要濕地名錄;
2011年西洞庭湖自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)管理局著手保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)升國家級工(gong)作,對(dui)區(qu)(qu)內(nei)濕地資源(yuan)進(jin)行科(ke)學考察,完善了國家級自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)總體規劃,夯實(shi)了保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)升國家級工(gong)作基礎;
2014年(nian)1月常德(de)漢壽西(xi)洞庭湖自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區獲(huo)批國(guo)家(jia)級自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區。?
東經111°57ˊ~112°17ˊ,北(bei)緯28°47ˊ~29°07ˊ,屬(shu)濕地生態系統類型(xing)自然保護(hu)區。
洞(dong)庭湖(hu)(hu)胚胎發(fa)育于湖(hu)(hu)南西洞(dong)庭湖(hu)(hu)國(guo)家級自然保護區全(quan)新世(shi)早(zao)期的(de)(de)平原水系和(he)星散(san)湖(hu)(hu)沼(zhao)。全(quan)新世(shi)初期,本區仍為河(he)網切割的(de)(de)平原地貌景觀(guan)。由于地勢的(de)(de)波狀起(qi)伏,在(zai)河(he)間(jian)的(de)(de)碟形洼(wa)地內,分布著一(yi)些星散(san)的(de)(de)小型湖(hu)(hu)泊和(he)沼(zhao)澤。現(xian)今的(de)(de)西洞(dong)庭湖(hu)(hu)就是在(zai)這一(yi)地質地貌背景下,由這些星散(san)的(de)(de)小型湖(hu)(hu)沼(zhao)逐漸(jian)發(fa)展演變而來的(de)(de)。
洞(dong)庭湖(hu)位于湖(hu)南省北部(bu),長江(jiang)中游(you)南岸,有(you)湘、資、沅(yuan)(yuan)、澧四水流(liu)入(ru)(ru)。西洞(dong)庭湖(hu)(目平(ping)湖(hu))地(di)處沅(yuan)(yuan)、澧水尾(wei)閭,通江(jiang)達(da)海,它不(bu)僅承接(jie)沅(yuan)(yuan)、澧二(er)水,而且(qie)吞吐長江(jiang)松(song)滋(zi)、太平(ping)二(er)口(kou)洪流(liu),漢壽縣南部(bu)低(di)山(shan)丘(qiu)陵區為(wei)雪(xue)峰山(shan)余(yu)脈(mo),其(qi)間滄(cang)水、浪水、龍(long)池(chi)河(he)、煙包山(shan)河(he)等8條河(he)流(liu)也(ye)由南向(xiang)北流(liu)入(ru)(ru)西洞(dong)庭湖(hu)。常德(de)德(de)山(shan)以下的(de)沅(yuan)(yuan)水流(liu)入(ru)(ru)西洞(dong)庭湖(hu),流(liu)入(ru)(ru)位置(zhi)為(wei)坡頭南堤。沅(yuan)(yuan)水流(liu)域(yu)(yu)常德(de)境(jing)內長104km,流(liu)域(yu)(yu)面積5609.2km。澧水在花園咀以下的(de)部(bu)分流(liu)入(ru)(ru)西洞(dong)庭湖(hu),當沅(yuan)(yuan)水較(jiao)低(di)時(shi)其(qi)部(bu)分與安鄉流(liu)來的(de)松(song)滋(zi)、虎渡河(he)等合流(liu)入(ru)(ru)湖(hu)。澧水流(liu)域(yu)(yu)流(liu)經(jing)常德(de)180 km,流(liu)域(yu)(yu)面積8146km。
本區(qu)屬中亞(ya)熱帶季(ji)風(feng)氣(qi)候(hou)區(qu),由于受東亞(ya)季(ji)風(feng)和(長)江(洞庭)湖龐大水體的影(ying)響,具(ju)有濕潤的大陸亞(ya)熱帶季(ji)風(feng)氣(qi)候(hou)的溫和濕潤、光熱充足、多風(feng)多雨、四季(ji)分明的氣(qi)候(hou)特(te)征(zheng)。?
保護區總面(mian)積(ji)30044公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),其中核心區面(mian)積(ji)9061公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),緩沖區面(mian)積(ji)6155公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),實驗區面(mian)積(ji)14818公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)。
根據實地(di)調查結果,保護(hu)區現已記錄到(dao)維管(guan)束植物87科(ke)259屬(shu)(shu)414種(zhong),其(qi)中蕨類(lei)植物14科(ke)16屬(shu)(shu)19種(zhong);裸子植物1科(ke)2屬(shu)(shu)2種(zhong)(均為(wei)(wei)(wei)引種(zhong)栽培);被子植物72科(ke)241屬(shu)(shu)393種(zhong)。保護(hu)區植物區系主要(yao)以世(shi)界(jie)廣(guang)布成(cheng)分(fen)(fen)、泛熱帶(dai)成(cheng)分(fen)(fen)和(he)北溫帶(dai)成(cheng)分(fen)(fen)為(wei)(wei)(wei)主,其(qi)中世(shi)界(jie)廣(guang)布成(cheng)分(fen)(fen)尤為(wei)(wei)(wei)突出,共有(you)(you)45科(ke),占總(zong)科(ke)的61.64%;而泛熱帶(dai)成(cheng)分(fen)(fen)和(he)北溫帶(dai)成(cheng)分(fen)(fen)分(fen)(fen)別有(you)(you)13科(ke)和(he)11科(ke),占總(zong)科(ke)數(shu)的比例分(fen)(fen)別為(wei)(wei)(wei)17.81%和(he)15.07%。這(zhe)三種(zhong)主要(yao)成(cheng)分(fen)(fen)的科(ke)數(shu)之和(he)為(wei)(wei)(wei)69科(ke),占總(zong)科(ke)數(shu)的比例為(wei)(wei)(wei)94.52%。其(qi)它有(you)(you)8種(zhong)類(lei)型缺(que)失,還有(you)(you)4種(zhong)類(lei)型均分(fen)(fen)別只有(you)(you)1科(ke)。濕地(di)植被在科(ke)的分(fen)(fen)布區類(lei)型上具有(you)(you)高度(du)的趨同性。
西洞庭湖(hu)(hu)自然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)內記錄到底(di)棲(qi)動物(wu)4目(mu)(mu)9科(ke)(ke)(ke)65種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),魚類(lei)(lei)9目(mu)(mu)20科(ke)(ke)(ke)112種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),兩棲(qi)類(lei)(lei)1目(mu)(mu)5科(ke)(ke)(ke)13種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),爬(pa)行類(lei)(lei)3目(mu)(mu)8科(ke)(ke)(ke)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),哺(bu)乳類(lei)(lei)7目(mu)(mu)14科(ke)(ke)(ke)26種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。西洞庭湖(hu)(hu)自然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)是極(ji)具科(ke)(ke)(ke)研、保(bao)護價值的(de)(de)濕(shi)(shi)地(di)生(sheng)態系(xi)統和(he)濕(shi)(shi)地(di)鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)類(lei)(lei)保(bao)護區(qu)(qu),區(qu)(qu)內鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)類(lei)(lei)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)多(duo),數(shu)(shu)量大(da),共(gong)記錄到鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)類(lei)(lei)205種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),分(fen)(fen)屬15目(mu)(mu)50科(ke)(ke)(ke)。占全(quan)國鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)類(lei)(lei)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)總(zong)數(shu)(shu)1329種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)15.2%,占湖(hu)(hu)南(nan)省鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)類(lei)(lei)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)總(zong)數(shu)(shu)438種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)46.1%。其中,雀形目(mu)(mu)、鸻(heng)形目(mu)(mu)和(he)雁形目(mu)(mu)無論在種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)和(he)數(shu)(shu)量上(shang)都占有(you)絕對優勢(shi),各有(you)84種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、31種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)和(he)27種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),分(fen)(fen)別占鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)類(lei)(lei)群落(luo)組成的(de)(de)41.0%、15.1%和(he)13.2%。在水鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)各科(ke)(ke)(ke)中,鴨科(ke)(ke)(ke)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)最多(duo),有(you)27種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其次是鷸科(ke)(ke)(ke)和(he)鷺科(ke)(ke)(ke),都為14種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中,濕(shi)(shi)地(di)水鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)共(gong)8目(mu)(mu)90種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占全(quan)國水鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)的(de)(de)33.1%,反應了保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)在水鳥(niao)(niao)(niao)及(ji)其棲(qi)息地(di)保(bao)護上(shang)的(de)(de)重要性。
1) 哺乳動(dong)(dong)物(wu)中,屬(shu)國家I級重點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)1種(zhong),即(ji)麋鹿(lu),屬(shu)國家II級重點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)有(you)3種(zhong),即(ji)小靈貓、河麂、穿山(shan)甲(jia)。此外,還(huan)有(you)12種(zhong)哺乳動(dong)(dong)物(wu)屬(shu)“國家保(bao)護(hu)(hu)的(de)有(you)益的(de)或者有(you)重要經(jing)濟、科(ke)學研究價值的(de)陸(lu)(lu)生野(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物(wu)”,有(you)14種(zhong)哺乳動(dong)(dong)物(wu)屬(shu)于湖(hu)南省地(di)方重點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)陸(lu)(lu)生野(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物(wu)。
2)鳥(niao)類中,屬(shu)(shu)國家(jia)I級重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)護的(de)有(you)4種(zhong),即白鶴(he)(he)、白尾(wei)海(hai)雕(diao)、黑鸛和東方白鸛;屬(shu)(shu)國家(jia)II級重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)護的(de)有(you)21種(zhong),即小天鵝、白額雁、鴛鴦、小鴉鵑(juan)、褐翅(chi)鴉鵑(juan)、白枕鶴(he)(he)、灰鶴(he)(he)、鶚(e)、鵲鷂、白腹鷂、白尾(wei)鷂、蒼(cang)鷹(ying)、雀鷹(ying)、普通鵟(kuang)、大鵟(kuang)、灰背(bei)隼(sun)、游隼(sun)、紅隼(sun)、阿穆爾隼(sun)、白琵(pi)鷺(lu)和卷羽鵜鶘。
列入IUCN:近危(NT)的(de)(de)有(you)羅紋鴨、白(bai)(bai)眼潛鴨和黑尾(wei)塍(cheng)鷸3種(zhong)(zhong),瀕危的(de)(de)有(you)青頭潛鴨和東方(fang)白(bai)(bai)鸛(guan)2種(zhong)(zhong),易危的(de)(de)有(you)花臉(lian)鴨、小白(bai)(bai)額雁、白(bai)(bai)枕鶴(he)和卷羽(yu)鵜鶘4種(zhong)(zhong),極危的(de)(de)有(you)白(bai)(bai)鶴(he)和黑鸛(guan)2種(zhong)(zhong)。
列(lie)入(ru)(ru)CITES附錄(lu)I的有(you)(you)(you):白(bai)(bai)鶴、白(bai)(bai)枕(zhen)鶴、白(bai)(bai)尾海雕(diao)、東(dong)方(fang)白(bai)(bai)鸛(guan)4種;列(lie)入(ru)(ru)CITES附錄(lu)II的有(you)(you)(you):鶚、游隼(sun)、白(bai)(bai)琵鷺和(he)(he)黑鸛(guan)4種。列(lie)入(ru)(ru)中國瀕(bin)危物種紅皮書:稀有(you)(you)(you)的有(you)(you)(you)棉(mian)鳧、鶚和(he)(he)游隼(sun)3種,瀕(bin)危的有(you)(you)(you)白(bai)(bai)鶴、黑鸛(guan)和(he)(he)東(dong)方(fang)白(bai)(bai)鸛(guan)3種,易危的有(you)(you)(you)小天鵝、鴛鴦、小鴉鵑(juan)、褐(he)翅鴉鵑(juan)、白(bai)(bai)枕(zhen)鶴和(he)(he)白(bai)(bai)琵鷺6種。
3)爬(pa)行動物(wu)中,有20種爬(pa)行動物(wu)屬于“國家(jia)保護的有益的或者有重要經濟、科學研究價值的陸(lu)生野生動物(wu)”,同時有20種爬(pa)行動物(wu)為湖南(nan)省地方重點保護陸(lu)生野生動物(wu)。
列入(ru)(ru)(ru)《瀕(bin)危(wei)(wei)動(dong)植物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)際貿易公約(yue)(yue)》附錄(lu)(lu)(lu)II的(de)有(you)舟山眼(yan)鏡蛇1種(zhong)(zhong),列入(ru)(ru)(ru)《瀕(bin)危(wei)(wei)動(dong)植物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)際貿易公約(yue)(yue)》附錄(lu)(lu)(lu)III的(de)有(you)烏(wu)龜1種(zhong)(zhong)。在《中國(guo)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)紅色名錄(lu)(lu)(lu)》中,烏(wu)龜被(bei)列入(ru)(ru)(ru)瀕(bin)危(wei)(wei)等級(ji);中華鱉、王錦(jin)蛇、黑眉(mei)錦(jin)蛇、烏(wu)梢蛇、銀環蛇指名亞(ya)種(zhong)(zhong)、舟山眼(yan)鏡蛇和短尾蝮這7種(zhong)(zhong)被(bei)列入(ru)(ru)(ru)易危(wei)(wei)等級(ji)。
4)兩(liang)棲動物(wu)中,虎(hu)紋蛙屬于國家(jia)II級重(zhong)點(dian)保護野(ye)生動物(wu),其(qi)余12種兩(liang)棲類均(jun)屬“國家(jia)保護的有益的或者有重(zhong)要經濟(ji)、科學研究價值的陸生野(ye)生動物(wu)”,同時也是湖南省地(di)方重(zhong)點(dian)保護陸生野(ye)生動物(wu)。
列入(ru)《瀕(bin)危動植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)種國(guo)際貿易公(gong)約》附(fu)錄(lu)II的有虎紋蛙1種;在《中國(guo)物(wu)(wu)種紅色名錄(lu)》中,虎紋蛙被列入(ru)易危等(deng)級;黑斑側褶蛙被列入(ru)近危等(deng)級。
5)魚類中,屬國家I級重點保護的1種,即中華(hua)鱘;
屬(shu)國(guo)家II級重點保護(hu)的有1種,即胭脂魚。?
湖南西洞庭(ting)湖國家級自然(ran)保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)是長江(jiang)中下游通江(jiang)湖泊的(de)(de)典型(xing)代表(biao),在國家生(sheng)態(tai)安(an)全(quan)、全(quan)球生(sheng)物(wu)多(duo)樣性(xing)(xing)保(bao)(bao)護和江(jiang)湖復(fu)合(he)濕地生(sheng)態(tai)系統保(bao)(bao)護上具有非常重要(yao)(yao)的(de)(de)意義。作為國際重要(yao)(yao)濕地、東亞候鳥重要(yao)(yao)越冬(dong)地和長江(jiang)生(sheng)物(wu)多(duo)樣性(xing)(xing)保(bao)(bao)護的(de)(de)重要(yao)(yao)節點,其生(sheng)態(tai)系統的(de)(de)穩定(ding)性(xing)(xing)對整(zheng)個洞庭(ting)湖乃至(zhi)長江(jiang)中下游地區(qu)的(de)(de)生(sheng)態(tai)安(an)全(quan)產生(sheng)著重大影(ying)響。