四川(chuan)(chuan)花萼山(shan)(shan)國家(jia)級(ji)(ji)自然(ran)保護區位于四川(chuan)(chuan)省東(dong)北部(bu)的(de)萬源市境(jing)內,地處(chu)大巴山(shan)(shan)南麓的(de)川(chuan)(chuan)陜渝三省(市)交(jiao)界處(chu),地理位置為(wei)東(dong)經(jing)108°00′~108°27′,北緯31°55′~31°12′。保護區總(zong)面(mian)積46534.37 hm2,涉及(ji)11個鄉鎮,其中(zhong)核心區面(mian)積為(wei)12382.67hm2,緩沖區面(mian)積為(wei)13065.21hm2,實驗(yan)區面(mian)積為(wei)21086.49hm2。花萼山(shan)(shan)1998年10月(yue)通過省級(ji)(ji)自然(ran)保護區評(ping)審;2007年4月(yue)經(jing)國務院(yuan)審定為(wei)國家(jia)級(ji)(ji)自然(ran)保護區,成立(li)了保護區管(guan)理處(chu),為(wei)萬源市人民政府正科級(ji)(ji)派出機構。
花(hua)萼山(shan)(shan)自然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)地(di)(di)(di)質歷史(shi)古老,受(shou)地(di)(di)(di)質構造影響,保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)內(nei)為中、低山(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)(di)貌,其(qi)東(dong)北部邊(bian)緣是大(da)巴(ba)山(shan)(shan)主脈。境內(nei)最高處花(hua)萼山(shan)(shan)主峰(feng)海拔(ba)2380m,最低處位于后河(he)(he)上游支流白沙河(he)(he)中段的(de)(de)蔣家(jia)河(he)(he)壩(ba),海拔(ba)780m,相對高差達(da)1600m。大(da)部分山(shan)(shan)脊(ji)和(he)峰(feng)嶺(ling)海拔(ba)均在1700-2200m,局部區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)域(yu)喀斯特地(di)(di)(di)貌發育,溶(rong)溝、溶(rong)洞、峰(feng)叢(cong)、洼地(di)(di)(di)景(jing)觀屢有所見。保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)屬(shu)(shu)北亞(ya)熱帶濕潤季風氣候(hou),山(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)(di)立體(ti)氣候(hou)特征明顯(xian)。溪河(he)(he)遍布,水系發達(da),保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)所在的(de)(de)萬源市正(zheng)是以“萬水之源”而得其(qi)名。保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)所涉及的(de)(de)河(he)(he)流主要屬(shu)(shu)于江漢流域(yu)的(de)(de)任河(he)(he)和(he)屬(shu)(shu)于嘉陵江水系的(de)(de)后河(he)(he)及其(qi)支流白沙河(he)(he)。獨(du)特的(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)理(li)位置和(he)優越的(de)(de)環境條件,使得花(hua)萼山(shan)(shan)保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)生物物種、自然景(jing)觀都呈(cheng)現(xian)出(chu)極其(qi)豐富的(de)(de)多樣(yang)性。
花萼山(shan)(shan)自然保(bao)(bao)護區現(xian)(xian)有(you)(you)(you)維管束植(zhi)物179科、876屬(shu)、2261種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong),國(guo)家(jia)一級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護植(zhi)物有(you)(you)(you)紅(hong)豆(dou)(dou)(dou)杉(shan)(shan)、南方紅(hong)豆(dou)(dou)(dou)杉(shan)(shan)、珙桐、光葉(xie)珙桐;國(guo)家(jia)二(er)級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護植(zhi)物有(you)(you)(you)金(jin)錢松、秦嶺冷(leng)杉(shan)(shan)、巴(ba)山(shan)(shan)榧、臺灣(wan)水(shui)(shui)青(qing)岡、鵝掌楸、厚樸(pu)、連香(xiang)樹(shu)、領春木(mu)、金(jin)錢槭、杜仲(zhong)、香(xiang)果樹(shu)、銀鵲(que)樹(shu)、山(shan)(shan)白(bai)樹(shu)、楨楠、八角(jiao)蓮、紅(hong)豆(dou)(dou)(dou)樹(shu)、青(qing)檀、建蘭、春蘭、惠蘭、天麻(ma)等。此外,分布(bu)于該區域的(de)特有(you)(you)(you)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)和模式種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)較多(duo)(duo),如巴(ba)山(shan)(shan)冷(leng)杉(shan)(shan)、巴(ba)山(shan)(shan)榧、臺灣(wan)水(shui)(shui)青(qing)岡、巴(ba)山(shan)(shan)木(mu)竹、城(cheng)口樟、城(cheng)口獼(mi)(mi)猴(hou)桃(tao)等。在(zai)野(ye)生資源植(zhi)物中(zhong),湖(hu)北貝(bei)母(俗稱萼山(shan)(shan)尖貝(bei))、臘梅、多(duo)(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)蘭花、野(ye)大(da)豆(dou)(dou)(dou)、城(cheng)口獼(mi)(mi)猴(hou)桃(tao)等都(dou)是具有(you)(you)(you)很高(gao)利用價值且急需(xu)受到保(bao)(bao)護的(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類。保(bao)(bao)護區現(xian)(xian)已查明野(ye)生脊椎動(dong)(dong)物374種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)和亞(ya)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)獸(shou)類64種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、鳥類196種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),兩(liang)棲(qi)類23種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、爬(pa)行類27種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、魚類64種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其中(zhong)國(guo)家(jia)I級(ji)重點保(bao)(bao)護野(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物有(you)(you)(you)豹、云豹、林麝、金(jin)雕種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);國(guo)家(jia)II級(ji)重點保(bao)(bao)護野(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物有(you)(you)(you)黃喉貂、水(shui)(shui)鹿、鬣羚(ling)、斑羚(ling)、金(jin)貓(mao)、大(da)靈(ling)貓(mao)、豺、黑熊、獼(mi)(mi)猴(hou)、水(shui)(shui)獺、蒼鷹、鳶(yuan)、赤腹鷹、普通鵟、紅(hong)隼(sun)、勺雞(ji)、白(bai)冠長尾(wei)雉(zhi)、紅(hong)腹角(jiao)雉(zhi)、紅(hong)腹錦雞(ji)、領角(jiao)鸮、雕鸮、黃腳魚鸮、大(da)鯢等27種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
花(hua)萼山自(zi)保(bao)(bao)護區地(di)(di)(di)處秦嶺——大巴山腹心地(di)(di)(di)帶(dai)(dai),生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物物種(zhong)豐富多樣(yang)(yang)、生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)態系統(tong)原始,其自(zi)然(ran)綜合體(ti)具有(you)重大的科(ke)學意義和保(bao)(bao)護價值。世界自(zi)然(ran)基金會“Ecoregion.200”、《中國生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物多樣(yang)(yang)性(xing)(xing)保(bao)(bao)護行動(dong)計劃》、《中國生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物多樣(yang)(yang)性(xing)(xing)國情研究報告》等重要文獻都已將該地(di)(di)(di)區列入(ru)我國生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物多樣(yang)(yang)性(xing)(xing)保(bao)(bao)護的關鍵地(di)(di)(di)區和優先(xian)、重點保(bao)(bao)護區域。四川花(hua)萼山自(zi)保(bao)(bao)護區主要保(bao)(bao)護對象為具有(you)代(dai)表性(xing)(xing)的北(bei)亞(ya)熱帶(dai)(dai)森林生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)態系統(tong)、具有(you)不可(ke)替(ti)代(dai)性(xing)(xing)的北(bei)亞(ya)熱帶(dai)(dai)地(di)(di)(di)區的生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物物種(zhong)多樣(yang)(yang)性(xing)(xing)和優美獨(du)特的自(zi)然(ran)景觀。
花萼山(shan)自然(ran)保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)是長江(jiang)中(zhong)上游兩大支流(liu)(漢(han)江(jiang)、嘉陵江(jiang))的(de)(de)發源地和(he)分水(shui)嶺,其自然(ran)生(sheng)態系統的(de)(de)穩定性(xing)對嘉陵江(jiang)和(he)江(jiang)漢(han)流(liu)域乃至長江(jiang)流(liu)域中(zhong)下游地區(qu)的(de)(de)生(sheng)態安全都產生(sheng)著關鍵性(xing)影(ying)響。四川花萼山(shan)自然(ran)保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)物(wu)種(zhong)多(duo)樣性(xing)豐富,具有(you)我國(guo)南(nan)方與北方、華東(dong)區(qu)與西(xi)南(nan)區(qu)動(dong)植物(wu)區(qu)系交匯(hui)的(de)(de)顯著特征,特別是許(xu)多(duo)受(shou)國(guo)家重點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)古老、孑(jie)遺(yi)、特有(you)、珍稀(xi)、瀕危動(dong)植物(wu)種(zhong)類殘(can)存(cun)在保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)內,堪稱“物(wu)種(zhong)避難所”。
花萼(e)山自然(ran)保護區還具有(you)豐富的文(wen)化多(duo)樣性。這(zhe)里是三(san)國(guo)時期(qi)—代名(ming)士徐(xu)庶的隱(yin)居之處,又是清代名(ming)將(jiang)張獻忠(zhong)受困之地(di),更是第二次國(guo)內革命(ming)戰爭時期(qi)中國(guo)工農紅軍川陜根據地(di)的腹(fu)地(di),革命(ming)史跡(ji)和古代文(wen)物遺跡(ji)眾多(duo)。
綜上所(suo)述,從保護(hu)具有(you)代表性的(de)(de)北(bei)亞(ya)熱(re)帶森林(lin)生態(tai)系(xi)統、具有(you)不(bu)可替代性的(de)(de)北(bei)亞(ya)熱(re)帶地區(qu)的(de)(de)生物物種多樣性和優美(mei)獨特的(de)(de)自(zi)然景觀的(de)(de)角度,四川花萼山自(zi)然保護(hu)區(qu)從省級升(sheng)為國(guo)家級具有(you)極其(qi)重(zhong)要(yao)的(de)(de)意義。保護(hu)區(qu)所(suo)在的(de)(de)萬(wan)源市(shi)是典型的(de)(de)”老(lao)、少、邊、窮(qiong)”地區(qu),國(guo)家級自(zi)然保護(hu)區(qu)的(de)(de)建立將達到以科學(xue)帶動(dong)致富,充分發揮以保護(hu)促進發展的(de)(de)作用(yong)。