保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)地理(li)坐(zuo)標(biao):東經(jing)108°24′00″—108°36′10″之間,北緯33°34′00″—33°22′00″,以平河梁主峰-龍潭子為(wei)核心。最高(gao)海(hai)(hai)拔(ba)(ba)2679米;最低點海(hai)(hai)拔(ba)(ba)1265米。保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)總面積21152公頃(qing)(qing),全部為(wei)國有林。劃(hua)分(fen)為(wei)核心區(qu)(qu)、緩沖區(qu)(qu)和試驗(yan)區(qu)(qu),其中核心區(qu)(qu)6510公頃(qing)(qing),緩沖區(qu)(qu)6200公頃(qing)(qing),實驗(yan)區(qu)(qu)8442公頃(qing)(qing)。
保(bao)護(hu)區位于秦嶺(ling)(ling)腹地,轄區地域遼闊(kuo),人(ren)煙(yan)稀少,屬北亞熱帶濕潤(run)季風氣候,四(si)季分明(ming),夏季涼(liang)爽多(duo)雨(yu),冬季干燥微寒,氣候垂直分布明(ming)顯(xian),年降水量944.5毫米。良(liang)好(hao)的(de)生(sheng)(sheng)態系統、森林環境和(he)(he)(he)氣候條件(jian)為珍(zhen)(zhen)稀野生(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)提供良(liang)好(hao)的(de)棲息場所和(he)(he)(he)食(shi)物(wu)(wu)基地,區內(nei)野生(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)資(zi)源豐富,種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類繁多(duo)。經(jing)調查,分布有(you)(you)168科,728屬,1830種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜西種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)1143屬、4377種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)63.7%、41.8%。其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you)國家(jia)重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),省級保(bao)護(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)9種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。珍(zhen)(zhen)稀樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you):紅豆杉、秦嶺(ling)(ling)冷杉、大(da)果青(qing)桿、連香樹(shu)、水青(qing)樹(shu)、野大(da)豆、水曲柳(liu)等(deng)。保(bao)護(hu)區有(you)(you)野生(sheng)(sheng)脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)289種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜西脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)總數的(de)39.1%。其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you)國家(jia)一級重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國家(jia)二(er)級重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)24種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),陜西省省級重(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);我(wo)國特有(you)(you)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)63種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)最(zui)具有(you)(you)代(dai)表性(xing)(xing)(xing)的(de)有(you)(you)大(da)熊貓(mao)、羚牛、川(chuan)金絲猴、朱鹮,“秦嶺(ling)(ling)四(si)寶”。生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)多(duo)樣性(xing)(xing)(xing)豐富度(du)較高,其(qi)原始性(xing)(xing)(xing)、稀有(you)(you)性(xing)(xing)(xing)、典型性(xing)(xing)(xing)和(he)(he)(he)代(dai)表性(xing)(xing)(xing)突出明(ming)顯(xian),。
保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)自(zi)然(ran)(ran)景觀(guan)包括地(di)(di)質、地(di)(di)貌、氣候(hou)、水文、動物(wu)(wu)(wu)和植物(wu)(wu)(wu)等,以高(gao)、寒(han)、奇(qi)、險、特為(wei)特色使該區(qu)(qu)成為(wei)一處自(zi)然(ran)(ran)生態環境獨(du)特的(de)(de)自(zi)然(ran)(ran)綜合體(ti)。保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)森(sen)林茂密(mi),覆蓋率高(gao),對周圍(wei)地(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)具有重(zhong)大(da)的(de)(de)生態效益,主要體(ti)現在涵養(yang)水源、保(bao)持(chi)水土、凈化空氣、調節氣候(hou)和提供自(zi)然(ran)(ran)生態“本底”等作用。平河梁自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)建立,將(jiang)北部的(de)(de)牛(niu)背(bei)梁、東(dong)部的(de)(de)鎮安鷹嘴石(shi)、西部的(de)(de)寧陜(shan)自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)有機(ji)的(de)(de)結(jie)合起來,形成保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)群,為(wei)大(da)熊貓及野生動物(wu)(wu)(wu)提供了良好的(de)(de)棲(qi)息(xi)環境,使珍稀、瀕危物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)得到更(geng)好的(de)(de)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)與繁衍。
2011年12月9日順利通過國(guo)家環(huan)保部的(de)晉(jin)級(ji)評審,2012年1月平河(he)梁自(zi)然保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)通過國(guo)務院國(guo)家級(ji)自(zi)然保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)評審委員會評審和公(gong)示,保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)各項建設工(gong)作向前穩步推進,實現人與自(zi)然的(de)和諧發(fa)展。2013年6月4日,經國(guo)務院辦公(gong)廳《國(guo)辦發(fa)[2013]48號》批準平河(he)梁自(zi)然保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)晉(jin)升為國(guo)家級(ji)自(zi)然保護(hu)(hu)區(qu)。