1973年，成立了利川縣水杉管理站；
1981年，恩施地區行政公署(shu)批(pi)準成立星斗山自然保護區；
1982年(nian)，設立(li)了省級小河水杉自然保護點；
1988年2月(yue)21日，湖北省人民政(zheng)府批準(zhun)星斗山為(wei)省級森林和野生動物類(lei)型的自然保護區；
2001年(nian)，恩施州政府將(jiang)星(xing)斗山(shan)自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)和(he)小(xiao)河水(shui)(shui)杉自(zi)然保(bao)護點(dian)合并申報國家級(ji)自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)，重點(dian)保(bao)護小(xiao)河水(shui)(shui)杉原生種群棲息地和(he)星(xing)斗山(shan)珍稀動植物(wu)生存(cun)環境。
2002年3月，全國(guo)人(ren)大(da)代表聯(lian)名提出“關于要求湖北省(sheng)恩施州星斗(dou)山小河自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區升級為國(guo)家級自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區”的提案，得到了國(guo)家領導人(ren)和(he)有(you)關職能部門的高(gao)度重視和(he)支持。
2003年，歷時一(yi)年，經5次(ci)評審(shen)，申報(bao)終獲成功。6月(yue)6日(ri)，中(zhong)華人民共和國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)辦(ban)公廳(ting)發布“國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)辦(ban)發[2003]54號”文件(jian)，將星(xing)(xing)斗(dou)山自然(ran)(ran)保護區(qu)(qu)晉升為國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)家級(ji)(ji)自然(ran)(ran)保護區(qu)(qu)。6月(yue)9日(ri)由國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)批準、國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)家林業局正(zheng)式授牌成立“湖北星(xing)(xing)斗(dou)山國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)家級(ji)(ji)自然(ran)(ran)保護區(qu)(qu)”。該保護區(qu)(qu)是一(yi)個以水(shui)杉等(deng)珍稀植物及(ji)其生境為主要保護對象(xiang)的自然(ran)(ran)保護區(qu)(qu)。
星(xing)斗山(shan)(shan)(shan)國家級自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)位于鄂(e)西(xi)(xi)南利(li)川市(shi)、恩施市(shi)、咸豐縣三(san)縣市(shi)境(jing)內。保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)屬武陵山(shan)(shan)(shan)系(xi)北上余支和(he)大巴山(shan)(shan)(shan)系(xi)巫山(shan)(shan)(shan)余脈齊(qi)岳山(shan)(shan)(shan)向(xiang)東(dong)(dong)南的(de)(de)延伸部(bu)分(fen)(fen)，地(di)處我國西(xi)(xi)南高山(shan)(shan)(shan)向(xiang)東(dong)(dong)南低(di)山(shan)(shan)(shan)丘(qiu)陵過渡的(de)(de)第二和(he)第三(san)階梯的(de)(de)過渡地(di)帶(dai)。境(jing)內山(shan)(shan)(shan)巒起(qi)伏，孤峰兀立，溝壑縱橫(heng)，海拔672~1751.2m。本區(qu)地(di)勢中部(bu)高，四周(zhou)低(di)，河(he)(he)流(liu)(liu)(liu)分(fen)(fen)布呈典型的(de)(de)放(fang)射狀水系(xi)，從(cong)中部(bu)順著地(di)質構成線(xian)和(he)山(shan)(shan)(shan)勢分(fen)(fen)向(xiang)四面(mian)八(ba)方流(liu)(liu)(liu)出(chu)。水系(xi)大致分(fen)(fen)為：由東(dong)(dong)流(liu)(liu)(liu)入長(chang)江(jiang)的(de)(de)清江(jiang)水系(xi)；分(fen)(fen)別(bie)由東(dong)(dong)南、西(xi)(xi)南流(liu)(liu)(liu)入烏(wu)江(jiang)的(de)(de)毛壩河(he)(he)、郁江(jiang)的(de)(de)烏(wu)江(jiang)水系(xi)；向(xiang)西(xi)(xi)流(liu)(liu)(liu)入長(chang)江(jiang)的(de)(de)石柱河(he)(he)；向(xiang)西(xi)(xi)北和(he)東(dong)(dong)北流(liu)(liu)(liu)入長(chang)江(jiang)的(de)(de)建(jian)南河(he)(he)、磨(mo)刀溪(xi)和(he)梅子(zi)水的(de)(de)長(chang)江(jiang)水系(xi)。保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)地(di)處武陵山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈與巫山(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)脈的(de)(de)交(jiao)匯部(bu)，屬中亞熱帶(dai)大陸性季風氣(qi)候。因區(qu)內地(di)形特殊，并有大巴山(shan)(shan)(shan)系(xi)巫山(shan)(shan)(shan)余脈作屏障(zhang)，第四紀(ji)冰(bing)川期，未受到冰(bing)川的(de)(de)影響，使其成為第三(san)紀(ji)植(zhi)物的(de)(de)“避(bi)難(nan)所”。
星斗山國家級自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)總面(mian)積(ji)68339h㎡（星斗山片(pian)(pian)(pian)面(mian)積(ji)42571h㎡，小河片(pian)(pian)(pian)面(mian)積(ji)25768h㎡），其中核心區(qu)21165h㎡，緩沖區(qu)14932h㎡，試驗區(qu)32242h㎡。分(fen)東部星斗山片(pian)(pian)(pian)和(he)西(xi)部小河片(pian)(pian)(pian)，屬野生(sheng)生(sheng)物類別野生(sheng)植物類型自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)。
重點保護珍稀動植物(wu)種群(qun)，面積(ji)42571h㎡，位于利川(chuan)市(shi)(shi)、咸豐縣(xian)、恩施市(shi)(shi)三縣(xian)市(shi)(shi)交界(jie)(jie)處(chu)，北緯(wei)29°57′ -30°10′，東(dong)經108°57′-109°27′，東(dong)以恩施市(shi)(shi)盛(sheng)家壩鄉(xiang)的馬鹿河為界(jie)(jie)，西至利川(chuan)市(shi)(shi)元寶鄉(xiang)的紅(hong)椿溝，南起(qi)咸豐縣(xian)黃金洞鄉(xiang)的利咸路，北至利川(chuan)市(shi)(shi)毛壩鄉(xiang)的黃泥壩；
重點保護水杉原生種群及(ji)其模式標本產地，面積25768h㎡，位于利川市境內，北(bei)緯30°04′-30°14′，東經(jing)108°31′-108°48′，東起忠路(lu)鎮(zhen)(zhen)的(de)老屋(wu)基(ji)，西(xi)至汪營鎮(zhen)(zhen)的(de)高筍塘(tang)，南(nan)起忠路(lu)鎮(zhen)(zhen)龍塘(tang)鋪，北(bei)至汪營鎮(zhen)(zhen)的(de)交椅臺。
星(xing)斗山(shan)國家(jia)級自然(ran)保護(hu)區屬自然(ran)生態(tai)系(xi)(xi)統類中(zhong)的森林生態(tai)系(xi)(xi)統類型自然(ran)保護(hu)區，主要保護(hu)對象(xiang)為中(zhong)亞熱帶森林生態(tai)系(xi)(xi)統以(yi)及水杉原生群落和珙桐(tong)、臺灣(wan)杉等珍稀(xi)野生植物及野生動物。
地(di)處我國(guo)(guo)西南(nan)高山向東南(nan)低丘(qiu)陵過渡地(di)帶，因有大巴山系巫山余(yu)脈作屏障，而成為(wei)第(di)三(san)紀(ji)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)“避(bi)難所”。保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區內植(zhi)被豐富而復雜，集(ji)中(zhong)(zhong)保(bao)(bao)存了大量古老孑(jie)遺、瀕危(wei)珍稀(xi)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)和野生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)。據調(diao)查，整個保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區境內有維管(guan)束植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)201科、843屬、2033種，其中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)一級重點(dian)(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)水杉(shan)、珙桐(tong)、光葉珙桐(tong)、紅(hong)豆杉(shan)、南(nan)方紅(hong)豆杉(shan)、銀(yin)杏、鐘萼木(mu)、莼菜8種，國(guo)(guo)家(jia)二級重點(dian)(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)禿杉(shan)等29種。起源(yuan)古老珍稀(xi)瀕危(wei)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)達40余(yu)種，屬世界性、全國(guo)(guo)性特有樹種7種。境內有野生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)1746種，其中(zhong)(zhong)列入(ru)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)一級重點(dian)(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)動物(wu)(wu)有金(jin)錢(qian)豹、云豹、金(jin)雕、林麝4種，國(guo)(guo)家(jia)二級重點(dian)(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)動物(wu)(wu)46種。
屬云貴高原(yuan)(yuan)東北延(yan)伸(shen)地帶，處(chu)于武陵山(shan)脈(mo)(mo)與巫山(shan)山(shan)脈(mo)(mo)的(de)(de)(de)交(jiao)匯部(bu)，因四面高山(shan)環抱形(xing)成(cheng)一封閉長形(xing)山(shan)谷，幸(xing)免第三紀(ji)冰川侵襲，而成(cheng)為水(shui)杉(shan)(shan)原(yuan)(yuan)生(sheng)種群(qun)(qun)及其(qi)模式標本(ben)產地。20世紀(ji)40年代，中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)林(lin)學界在小河片(pian)內的(de)(de)(de)謀道(dao)鎮(zhen)磨刀溪(xi)首次發(fa)現生(sheng)存(cun)的(de)(de)(de)天(tian)然水(shui)杉(shan)(shan)并(bing)鑒定(ding)命(ming)名，被視為近代生(sheng)物(wu)學上的(de)(de)(de)重要(yao)發(fa)現，譽為“活化石”和植物(wu)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)“國(guo)寶(bao)”，并(bing)成(cheng)立了“中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)水(shui)杉(shan)(shan)保護委員會”。小河片(pian)內分布有水(shui)杉(shan)(shan)原(yuan)(yuan)生(sheng)母樹5746株，至今(jin)仍保存(cun)著古水(shui)杉(shan)(shan)原(yuan)(yuan)生(sheng)群(qun)(qun)落。謀道(dao)溪(xi)水(shui)杉(shan)(shan)王(wang)（系(xi)I號(hao)水(shui)杉(shan)(shan)）有“天(tian)下第一杉(shan)(shan)”之美稱，小平同志1992年南(nan)巡(xun)時曾提(ti)及此樹。莼菜(cai)在中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)國(guo)內除杭州有少量栽培外，僅產于小河片(pian)內的(de)(de)(de)福(fu)寶(bao)山(shan)。
本區植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)區系成(cheng)份(fen)復雜、物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)資源豐富(fu)，且(qie)古老孑遺植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)多，為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)重要的(de)(de)(de)(de)物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)基因(yin)庫(ku)之一。據初步調查，有(you)維管束植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)200科(ke)(ke)843屬(shu)2033種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，其中(zhong)(zhong)蕨類(lei)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)30科(ke)(ke)59屬(shu)132種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，裸子(zi)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)8科(ke)(ke)22屬(shu)28種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，被(bei)子(zi)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)162科(ke)(ke)762屬(shu)1873種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，列為(wei)(wei)國(guo)家Ⅰ級(ji)(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)水杉、珙桐、莼菜、南方紅豆杉等(deng)8種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，列為(wei)(wei)國(guo)家Ⅱ級(ji)(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)臺灣杉、黃杉、榧樹(shu)、水青樹(shu)等(deng)29種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。脊椎動物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)29目90科(ke)(ke)378種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，其中(zhong)(zhong)獸類(lei)8目24科(ke)(ke)72種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，鳥類(lei)17目46科(ke)(ke)226種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，兩棲(qi)類(lei)2目9科(ke)(ke)38種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，爬行(xing)類(lei)2目11科(ke)(ke)42種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。昆(kun)蟲有(you)178科(ke)(ke)1368種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。列為(wei)(wei)國(guo)家Ⅰ級(ji)(ji)重點保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)豹、云豹、金雕(diao)3種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，列為(wei)(wei)國(guo)家Ⅱ級(ji)(ji)重點保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)獼(mi)猴、穿山甲、黑熊、中(zhong)(zhong)華虎鳳蝶等(deng)47種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
星(xing)斗山國家級自然保(bao)護區是孑遺植(zhi)物水(shui)杉的模式(shi)標本產地(di)，也是世界(jie)上現存的水(shui)杉原生(sheng)群(qun)落集中(zhong)分布(bu)區，具有極高(gao)的典型性，對研究(jiu)古(gu)生(sheng)物、古(gu)氣候(hou)、古(gu)地(di)理等(deng)均有著極為重要的科學價值。同時還是清江的源(yuan)頭(tou)，動植(zhi)物生(sheng)長繁育的天堂，其巨(ju)大的種質資源(yuan)保(bao)護、蓄水(shui)、保(bao)土、保(bao)肥、減災增產、調節氣候(hou)等(deng)功能，正在其范圍內及(ji)周邊地(di)區全(quan)面(mian)發揮。
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