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Yangtze
Sustaining a valley of life
Tourist site on the Yangtze River, home to some of China's most spectacular natural scenery.
© WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER
The Yangtze is a region of extremes. Its dense mountain forests plunge into deep valleys through which the mighty Yangtze River flows. Only in the forests of central China can one find the beloved giant panda, munching on the numerous species of Fountain bamboo. This magnificent place is also home to a stunning array of wildlife including the elusive snow leopard and pheasants in all the colors of the rainbow.
Within the Yangtze region, WWF has identified the Minshan mountain range in the Sichuan and Gansu provinces as a particularly important landscape for biodiversity conservation. In addition to their high biodiversity, the Minshan Mountains play a vital role in watershed protection for the Yangtze River, regulating the flow of fresh water for more than 400 million people downstream.
Over the past 20 years, an astounding rate of economic development and a growing population have created a region struggling to manage the resulting environmental challenges. WWF was the first environmental group invited by the government to work in China—and we have a bold conservation vision focused on the health and survival of the region’s natural treasures, as well as the prosperity of its local communities.
WWF's vision: Conserve one of the world’s most important rivers and reduce the impact of human activities by transforming the most significant market forces, institutions and policies.
The place. The Yangtze River basin encompasses a variety of ecosystems— from tall mountains and dense forests that resemble our own Appalachian Mountains, to fertile wetlands and lakes and streams created by seasonal flooding. It covers nearly 448 million acres, an area more than four times the size of California.
The species. The rich habitats are a Chinese Eden. They are home to adored giant pandas, elusive snow leopards, and beautiful pheasants in all colors. Vast flocks of birds migrate here, including the rare black-necked crane and practically all Siberian cranes. Many of the flowers we plant in our gardens—rhododendrons and azaleas—originate from this region.
The people. Today, the region is home to more than 400 million people—nearly one-third of China’s population. In the last 50 years, the population has more than doubled, with the heaviest concentrations in the river valleys. Many ethnic groups, such as the Qiang people, have learned to survive using the natural resources of the forest, river, and wetlands.
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