保護區地理(li)坐標:東經108°24′00″—108°36′10″之間,北緯33°34′00″—33°22′00″,以平河(he)梁主峰-龍潭子(zi)為(wei)核(he)心(xin)(xin)。最高海拔(ba)2679米;最低點海拔(ba)1265米。保護區總面積21152公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),全部為(wei)國(guo)有林。劃分為(wei)核(he)心(xin)(xin)區、緩沖區和試驗(yan)區,其中核(he)心(xin)(xin)區6510公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),緩沖區6200公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),實(shi)驗(yan)區8442公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)。
保護區(qu)位于秦嶺腹地,轄區(qu)地域遼闊,人煙(yan)稀(xi)少,屬北亞熱帶濕(shi)潤季(ji)風氣候,四(si)季(ji)分(fen)明,夏季(ji)涼爽多雨,冬季(ji)干燥微寒(han),氣候垂直分(fen)布(bu)明顯,年降(jiang)水量944.5毫米。良(liang)好(hao)的生(sheng)態(tai)系(xi)統、森林環(huan)境和(he)氣候條件為珍(zhen)稀(xi)野生(sheng)動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)提供(gong)良(liang)好(hao)的棲息場所和(he)食(shi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)基(ji)地,區(qu)內野生(sheng)動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)資源豐富(fu),種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類繁多。經調查(cha),分(fen)布(bu)有168科,728屬,1830種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜西(xi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)1143屬、4377種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的63.7%、41.8%。其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)有國家重點保護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),省(sheng)級(ji)保護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)9種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。珍(zhen)稀(xi)樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有:紅豆(dou)杉(shan)、秦嶺冷杉(shan)、大果(guo)青桿(gan)、連香(xiang)樹、水青樹、野大豆(dou)、水曲柳等。保護區(qu)有野生(sheng)脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)289種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜西(xi)脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)總數的39.1%。其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)有國家一(yi)級(ji)重點保護物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國家二級(ji)重點保護物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)24種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),陜西(xi)省(sheng)省(sheng)級(ji)重點保護物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);我國特有物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)63種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)最具有代表性(xing)的有大熊貓(mao)、羚牛、川金(jin)絲猴(hou)、朱鹮,“秦嶺四(si)寶”。生(sheng)物(wu)(wu)(wu)多樣性(xing)豐富(fu)度(du)較高,其(qi)(qi)原始性(xing)、稀(xi)有性(xing)、典型性(xing)和(he)代表性(xing)突(tu)出明顯,。
保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)(ran)景觀包括(kuo)地質(zhi)、地貌、氣候、水文、動物和植物等(deng),以高、寒(han)、奇、險、特為特色使該區(qu)成為一處自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)(ran)生(sheng)(sheng)態環(huan)境獨(du)特的(de)(de)(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)(ran)綜合(he)(he)體。保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)森(sen)林茂(mao)密(mi),覆蓋率高,對周圍(wei)地區(qu)具有重大的(de)(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)(sheng)態效益,主要體現在涵養(yang)水源、保(bao)(bao)持水土、凈化空氣、調節氣候和提供自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)(ran)生(sheng)(sheng)態“本底”等(deng)作用。平河梁自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)(ran)保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)建立,將(jiang)北部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)牛背梁、東(dong)部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)鎮安鷹嘴石、西部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)寧陜(shan)自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)(ran)保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)有機的(de)(de)(de)(de)結合(he)(he)起來,形(xing)成保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)群,為大熊貓及野生(sheng)(sheng)動物提供了良好(hao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)棲息(xi)環(huan)境,使珍稀、瀕危物種得到更(geng)好(hao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)保(bao)(bao)護與(yu)繁衍。
2011年(nian)12月(yue)9日順利通過(guo)國(guo)家(jia)環保(bao)部的(de)晉級評(ping)審,2012年(nian)1月(yue)平(ping)(ping)河梁自(zi)(zi)然保(bao)護區通過(guo)國(guo)務院國(guo)家(jia)級自(zi)(zi)然保(bao)護區評(ping)審委員會評(ping)審和公示,保(bao)護區各項建設(she)工作向前穩(wen)步推(tui)進(jin),實現人與(yu)自(zi)(zi)然的(de)和諧發展。2013年(nian)6月(yue)4日,經國(guo)務院辦(ban)公廳《國(guo)辦(ban)發[2013]48號》批準(zhun)平(ping)(ping)河梁自(zi)(zi)然保(bao)護區晉升為國(guo)家(jia)級自(zi)(zi)然保(bao)護區。