保(bao)護區(qu)地理坐標:東(dong)經108°24′00″—108°36′10″之間,北緯33°34′00″—33°22′00″,以平河(he)梁主峰(feng)-龍潭子為核(he)心(xin)。最高(gao)海(hai)拔2679米(mi);最低點海(hai)拔1265米(mi)。保(bao)護區(qu)總面積21152公(gong)頃,全部為國(guo)有林。劃分(fen)為核(he)心(xin)區(qu)、緩沖區(qu)和(he)試(shi)驗(yan)區(qu),其中(zhong)核(he)心(xin)區(qu)6510公(gong)頃,緩沖區(qu)6200公(gong)頃,實驗(yan)區(qu)8442公(gong)頃。
保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)位于秦(qin)嶺腹(fu)地,轄區(qu)地域遼闊,人煙稀少,屬北亞熱帶濕潤季(ji)風氣候(hou),四(si)季(ji)分明(ming),夏季(ji)涼(liang)爽多(duo)雨,冬季(ji)干燥(zao)微寒,氣候(hou)垂直分布(bu)明(ming)顯,年降水量(liang)944.5毫(hao)米(mi)。良好的(de)生(sheng)態系統、森林環境和氣候(hou)條件為珍(zhen)稀野生(sheng)動(dong)(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)提供(gong)良好的(de)棲(qi)息場所和食物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)基地,區(qu)內(nei)野生(sheng)動(dong)(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)資源(yuan)豐富(fu),種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類繁多(duo)。經調查,分布(bu)有(you)(you)168科,728屬,1830種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜西(xi)(xi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)1143屬、4377種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)63.7%、41.8%。其中有(you)(you)國家重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),省(sheng)級保(bao)護(hu)(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)9種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。珍(zhen)稀樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you):紅豆杉(shan)、秦(qin)嶺冷(leng)杉(shan)、大果青桿、連香樹、水青樹、野大豆、水曲柳等。保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)有(you)(you)野生(sheng)脊椎動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)289種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜西(xi)(xi)脊椎動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)總(zong)數的(de)39.1%。其中有(you)(you)國家一級重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國家二級重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)24種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),陜西(xi)(xi)省(sheng)省(sheng)級重(zhong)點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);我國特有(you)(you)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)63種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其中最具有(you)(you)代表(biao)性(xing)的(de)有(you)(you)大熊貓、羚牛、川金絲猴、朱鹮,“秦(qin)嶺四(si)寶”。生(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)多(duo)樣(yang)性(xing)豐富(fu)度較高,其原始性(xing)、稀有(you)(you)性(xing)、典型性(xing)和代表(biao)性(xing)突出明(ming)顯,。
保(bao)護區(qu)的(de)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)景(jing)觀包括(kuo)地(di)質、地(di)貌、氣候(hou)、水(shui)文、動物和植物等,以高(gao)、寒(han)、奇、險、特為特色使(shi)該區(qu)成(cheng)為一處(chu)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)生態環境獨特的(de)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)綜(zong)合(he)體。保(bao)護區(qu)森林茂密,覆蓋率高(gao),對周圍地(di)區(qu)具有(you)重大的(de)生態效益,主要體現在涵養(yang)水(shui)源、保(bao)持水(shui)土、凈化空氣、調(diao)節氣候(hou)和提(ti)供(gong)自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)生態“本底(di)”等作(zuo)用。平河梁自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)保(bao)護區(qu)的(de)建立,將(jiang)北部(bu)(bu)的(de)牛背梁、東部(bu)(bu)的(de)鎮(zhen)安鷹(ying)嘴石、西部(bu)(bu)的(de)寧陜自(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)保(bao)護區(qu)有(you)機的(de)結合(he)起來,形成(cheng)保(bao)護區(qu)群(qun),為大熊貓及野(ye)生動物提(ti)供(gong)了良好(hao)的(de)棲息環境,使(shi)珍稀、瀕危物種得到更好(hao)的(de)保(bao)護與繁衍。
2011年12月(yue)9日順利通(tong)過(guo)國(guo)(guo)家環保(bao)(bao)(bao)部的晉級(ji)評審,2012年1月(yue)平(ping)河(he)梁自然(ran)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)通(tong)過(guo)國(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)國(guo)(guo)家級(ji)自然(ran)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)評審委員會評審和公示(shi),保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)各項建設(she)工作(zuo)向前穩步推進,實(shi)現人與自然(ran)的和諧發展。2013年6月(yue)4日,經國(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)辦公廳《國(guo)(guo)辦發[2013]48號》批準平(ping)河(he)梁自然(ran)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)晉升為(wei)國(guo)(guo)家級(ji)自然(ran)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)。