保護區(qu)(qu)地理坐標:東(dong)經108°24′00″—108°36′10″之間(jian),北緯33°34′00″—33°22′00″,以平河梁主(zhu)峰-龍(long)潭(tan)子(zi)為(wei)核(he)心。最高海拔2679米;最低點海拔1265米。保護區(qu)(qu)總面(mian)積21152公頃(qing),全部為(wei)國(guo)有(you)林。劃(hua)分(fen)為(wei)核(he)心區(qu)(qu)、緩(huan)沖(chong)區(qu)(qu)和試驗(yan)區(qu)(qu),其(qi)中核(he)心區(qu)(qu)6510公頃(qing),緩(huan)沖(chong)區(qu)(qu)6200公頃(qing),實(shi)驗(yan)區(qu)(qu)8442公頃(qing)。
保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)位于秦(qin)(qin)嶺腹地(di),轄(xia)區(qu)(qu)地(di)域遼(liao)闊,人煙稀(xi)(xi)少,屬北亞熱(re)帶濕潤季(ji)風氣候,四季(ji)分明(ming)(ming),夏季(ji)涼(liang)爽多(duo)雨,冬季(ji)干燥(zao)微寒(han),氣候垂直分布明(ming)(ming)顯,年降水量944.5毫米(mi)。良好(hao)的生(sheng)態系統、森林環境(jing)和(he)氣候條件為珍稀(xi)(xi)野(ye)生(sheng)動植物(wu)(wu)提供(gong)良好(hao)的棲(qi)息場所和(he)食(shi)物(wu)(wu)基地(di),區(qu)(qu)內(nei)野(ye)生(sheng)動植物(wu)(wu)資源豐(feng)富,種(zhong)(zhong)類繁多(duo)。經調查,分布有168科(ke),728屬,1830種(zhong)(zhong),占陜西(xi)(xi)種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)植物(wu)(wu)1143屬、4377種(zhong)(zhong)的63.7%、41.8%。其中(zhong)(zhong)有國(guo)家重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)植物(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong),省級保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)植物(wu)(wu)9種(zhong)(zhong)。珍稀(xi)(xi)樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)有:紅豆杉、秦(qin)(qin)嶺冷杉、大(da)果(guo)青桿、連香樹(shu)、水青樹(shu)、野(ye)大(da)豆、水曲柳等。保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)有野(ye)生(sheng)脊椎動物(wu)(wu)289種(zhong)(zhong),占陜西(xi)(xi)脊椎動物(wu)(wu)總數的39.1%。其中(zhong)(zhong)有國(guo)家一級重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)6種(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)家二級重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)24種(zhong)(zhong),陜西(xi)(xi)省省級重(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)20種(zhong)(zhong);我國(guo)特有物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)63種(zhong)(zhong)。其中(zhong)(zhong)最(zui)具(ju)有代表性(xing)的有大(da)熊貓、羚牛、川(chuan)金(jin)絲猴、朱鹮,“秦(qin)(qin)嶺四寶”。生(sheng)物(wu)(wu)多(duo)樣性(xing)豐(feng)富度較高(gao),其原始(shi)性(xing)、稀(xi)(xi)有性(xing)、典型性(xing)和(he)代表性(xing)突出明(ming)(ming)顯,。
保護(hu)區的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)然(ran)景觀(guan)包括地質、地貌、氣候、水(shui)文、動(dong)物和(he)植物等,以(yi)高、寒、奇、險(xian)、特(te)為(wei)特(te)色使(shi)該區成(cheng)為(wei)一(yi)處自(zi)(zi)然(ran)生(sheng)態環境獨特(te)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)然(ran)綜合體。保護(hu)區森林(lin)茂(mao)密,覆蓋率高,對周圍(wei)地區具有(you)重大(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)態效益,主要體現在涵養水(shui)源、保持水(shui)土、凈(jing)化空氣、調節氣候和(he)提供自(zi)(zi)然(ran)生(sheng)態“本(ben)底”等作用(yong)。平河梁自(zi)(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)立(li),將(jiang)北部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)牛(niu)背梁、東部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鎮安鷹嘴(zui)石、西部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)寧陜自(zi)(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區有(you)機的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)結合起(qi)來,形成(cheng)保護(hu)區群,為(wei)大(da)熊貓及野生(sheng)動(dong)物提供了(le)良好的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)棲(qi)息環境,使(shi)珍稀、瀕危物種得到(dao)更(geng)好的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)保護(hu)與繁衍(yan)。
2011年12月(yue)9日順利通(tong)過國(guo)家環保(bao)部(bu)的晉(jin)級評審(shen),2012年1月(yue)平河(he)梁自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區通(tong)過國(guo)務院(yuan)國(guo)家級自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區評審(shen)委(wei)員會(hui)評審(shen)和公示,保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區各項(xiang)建設工作向前穩步推進(jin),實現人與自(zi)然(ran)(ran)的和諧發展。2013年6月(yue)4日,經國(guo)務院(yuan)辦公廳《國(guo)辦發[2013]48號》批準平河(he)梁自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區晉(jin)升(sheng)為國(guo)家級自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區。