甘肅敦煌(huang)西湖自然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)1992年9月經省政府(fu)批準建立(li),原名(ming)“甘肅敦煌(huang)西湖灣腰墩自然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)”。
2000年,敦煌(huang)市(shi)委、市(shi)政(zheng)府和林(lin)業部門遵照國(guo)家林(lin)業局領導指示精神,開始申(shen)報國(guo)家級(ji)自然保護區(qu)。
2002年(nian)4月,省(sheng)政(zheng)府批準更名為“甘肅敦煌西(xi)湖(hu)省(sheng)級自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)”并同意申報(bao)建立國家級自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)。
2003年(nian)6月,經國(guo)務(wu)院批(pi)準,晉升為國(guo)家(jia)級自然保護區。
2005年3月,甘肅(su)省機構(gou)編(bian)(bian)制委(wei)員會核(he)準管理機構(gou)和人員編(bian)(bian)制。
2005年8月,甘(gan)肅(su)省林業廳批(pi)準成立甘(gan)肅(su)省敦(dun)煌市西湖國(guo)家級自(zi)然保護區(qu)管理局,10月起正式掛牌行使職權。
甘肅敦煌(huang)西湖國家(jia)(jia)級自然(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(以下簡稱(cheng)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區)位于敦煌(huang)市(shi)(shi)西部,庫姆(mu)塔(ta)格(ge)沙漠以東,東接(jie)敦煌(huang)市(shi)(shi)南泉(quan)濕地(di)自然(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區和(he)陽關(guan)鎮(zhen),南與(yu)阿克塞哈塞克族自治縣(xian)接(jie)壤(rang),西、北分(fen)別與(yu)新疆維吾(wu)爾自治區和(he)敦煌(huang)市(shi)(shi)國家(jia)(jia)雅丹(dan)地(di)質公園毗鄰并與(yu)庫姆(mu)塔(ta)格(ge)沙漠和(he)羅布泊相連,地(di)理坐標:東經92°45′~93°50′,北緯39°45′~40°36′。
敦煌西(xi)湖國家(jia)級(ji)自然保護(hu)區(qu)的(de)(de)主(zhu)要徑流(liu)(liu)是疏勒河、黨河及南湖泉(quan)水,因(yin)多種原因(yin)現(xian)基本(ben)斷流(liu)(liu),其次還有山水溝(gou)、西(xi)土溝(gou)、崔木(mu)土溝(gou)、多壩(ba)溝(gou)、小多壩(ba)溝(gou)、八龍溝(gou)等8條溝(gou)谷,多在夏(xia)季向區(qu)內排洪。現(xian)保護(hu)區(qu)內濕地(di)的(de)(de)主(zhu)要水源由地(di)下(xia)潛流(liu)(liu)提供,西(xi)祁連山和東阿爾金山的(de)(de)雪山融水滲(shen)入地(di)下(xia),經(jing)過地(di)下(xia)潛流(liu)(liu),在低海拔的(de)(de)地(di)區(qu)以泉(quan)涌(yong)的(de)(de)形式流(liu)(liu)出地(di)面,形成(cheng)大面積(ji)的(de)(de)季節性沼(zhao)澤型濕地(di)。保護(hu)區(qu)濕地(di)分布區(qu)地(di)下(xia)水資源比(bi)較(jiao)(jiao)豐(feng)富,部(bu)分區(qu)域(yu)泉(quan)眼較(jiao)(jiao)多,四季不竭。
敦(dun)煌西湖國家級自(zi)(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)平均(jun)海(hai)拔960米(mi),區(qu)(qu)內(nei)地勢是(shi)南北高(gao),中間低,自(zi)(zi)東(dong)向西微傾斜,區(qu)(qu)內(nei)海(hai)拔高(gao)點為(wei)(wei)卡拉塔格山(shan)(shan)海(hai)拔2238米(mi),低點為(wei)(wei)灣腰墩一帶海(hai)拔820米(mi)。保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)屬敦(dun)煌盆(pen)地的(de)(de)一部(bu)分,為(wei)(wei)河西走廊的(de)(de)低點,是(shi)匯集地表徑流和地下徑流的(de)(de)盆(pen)地,地貌主要有(you)沙漠(mo)、戈壁、裸石山(shan)(shan)地、濕地草叢、荒(huang)漠(mo)植被區(qu)(qu)五種類型。
敦煌(huang)西湖國家(jia)級自然(ran)保護(hu)區土壤(rang)分風沙土、棕漠土、鹽土、草甸(dian)土、沼(zhao)澤土5個土類。
敦煌(huang)西湖(hu)國家級自然(ran)保護區(qu)位于庫木(mu)塔格沙(sha)漠前(qian)沿,屬(shu)典型的大陸性暖溫(wen)帶極(ji)干旱(han)氣候(hou)區(qu)。氣候(hou)特征是降雨量少,蒸發量大,水源短缺,空氣極(ji)為干燥,日照時間長,熱量資源豐(feng)富(fu),溫(wen)差大,無霜期短,冬(dong)季(ji)寒冷,夏季(ji)炎熱,大風沙(sha)塵天氣較多,年均(jun)氣溫(wen)9.9℃,年均(jun)降雨量39.9毫米(mi),年均(jun)蒸發量2486毫米(mi),相對濕度40%,干燥度18,全年日照時數3246.7小時。
敦煌西湖(hu)國家級(ji)自然保護(hu)區(qu)總面積(ji)66萬公頃(qing),約占敦煌市(shi)總面積(ji)的21%,其(qi)中核心區(qu)19.8萬公頃(qing),緩沖區(qu)14.575萬公頃(qing),實(shi)驗區(qu)31.625萬公頃(qing)。主要保護(hu)范圍包(bao)括(kuo)灣腰墩、天橋墩、土豁(huo)落、馬(ma)迷兔、艾山井子(zi)(zi)、清水溝、火(huo)燒湖(hu)、后坑子(zi)(zi)、鹽池灣、崔木土溝和卡拉塔格(ge)等區(qu)域。
敦煌西湖國(guo)家級自(zi)然保護區(qu)屬內(nei)陸濕地和水域生態(tai)系(xi)統(tong)(tong)自(zi)然保護區(qu),主要(yao)保護對象為濕地生態(tai)系(xi)統(tong)(tong)、荒漠生態(tai)系(xi)統(tong)(tong)和珍稀(xi)野生動植(zhi)物及其生境。
敦(dun)煌西湖國家級自然保護(hu)區是(shi)干(gan)旱荒漠區重要的(de)水源涵(han)養區和蓄水庫。濕地面(mian)(mian)積(ji)達(da)9.8萬公頃,約占(zhan)敦(dun)煌市(shi)濕地總(zong)面(mian)(mian)積(ji)的(de)60%,其中(zhong)蘆葦沼(zhao)澤3.43萬公頃。春夏(xia)時節,低(di)洼地形成大面(mian)(mian)積(ji)的(de)季(ji)節性積(ji)水,植被(bei)中(zhong)蘆葦群系是(shi)面(mian)(mian)積(ji)大、典型的(de)植被(bei)類型,在季(ji)節性積(ji)水的(de)湖盆區,形成了沼(zhao)澤型蘆葦群落。
敦煌(huang)西湖國家級自(zi)然保護(hu)區林地(di)(di)總(zong)面積13.76萬公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),占保護(hu)區總(zong)面積的20.84%。其中(zhong)有(you)林地(di)(di)1099公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),疏(shu)林地(di)(di)5567公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),灌木林地(di)(di)67677公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),宜林地(di)(di)34556公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),無立木林地(di)(di)28611公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),林業輔助用(yong)地(di)(di)36公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing)。
敦煌西湖國家(jia)級自然保護區(qu)共有(you)種(zhong)子植(zhi)(zhi)物約80種(zhong),由于保護區(qu)氣候干旱,本(ben)地植(zhi)(zhi)被以(yi)超旱生(sheng)(sheng)和(he)旱生(sheng)(sheng)植(zhi)(zhi)物為主,木本(ben)植(zhi)(zhi)被較少。喬木樹種(zhong)僅有(you)胡楊和(he)梭梭,主要是超旱生(sheng)(sheng)和(he)旱生(sheng)(sheng)灌木、半灌木和(he)小半灌木,如:膜果麻黃(huang)、裸果木、多枝檉(cheng)柳、白(bai)刺(ci)、沙拐棗(zao)、蘇枸杞、霸王(wang)、羅布麻等常(chang)組成荒(huang)漠植(zhi)(zhi)被的建群種(zhong);草(cao)(cao)本(ben)植(zhi)(zhi)物中,蘆葦、駱駝刺(ci)、甘草(cao)(cao)等常(chang)組成鹽化(hua)草(cao)(cao)甸(dian)的建群種(zhong)。
敦煌西湖國(guo)(guo)(guo)家級自然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區內野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有(you)196種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)鳥(niao)類141種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),哺乳類32種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),魚類8種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),兩棲類2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),爬(pa)行(xing)類13種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鳥(niao)類141種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),哺乳類32種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),總數為196種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區的(de)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)可分為國(guo)(guo)(guo)家級保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)、國(guo)(guo)(guo)際公約(yue)或協定規(gui)定的(de)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)。其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)(guo)(guo)家Ⅰ級保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有(you)野(ye)(ye)駱(luo)駝、雙峰(feng)駝、金雕、黑鸛、小鴇(bao)、大(da)(da)(da)(da)鴇(bao)、波斑(ban)鴇(bao)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);Ⅱ級保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有(you)赤(chi)(chi)頸鸊鷉、巖鷺(lu)、草原(yuan)雕、灰背隼、猞猁、鵝喉羚(ling)等(deng)33種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。有(you)益或有(you)重要經濟和科研價值的(de)陸生野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(簡稱“三(san)有(you)”動(dong)(dong)物(wu))有(you)花背蟾蜍(chu)、西域(新疆)沙(sha)虎、沙(sha)蟒、赤(chi)(chi)麻鴨(ya)、黑頸鸊鷉、斑(ban)鶇、金眶鸻(heng)、赤(chi)(chi)狐(hu)、狼(lang)(lang)等(deng)111種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。列(lie)入《瀕危野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)際貿易公約(yue)》的(de)有(you)黑鸛、白(bai)(bai)琵鷺(lu)、大(da)(da)(da)(da)天鵝、鵝喉羚(ling)、狼(lang)(lang)等(deng)36種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。列(lie)入《中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)人(ren)民共和國(guo)(guo)(guo)政府(fu)(fu)和日本國(guo)(guo)(guo)政府(fu)(fu)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)候(hou)(hou)鳥(niao)及棲息(xi)環境(jing)(jing)協定》的(de)有(you)大(da)(da)(da)(da)白(bai)(bai)鷺(lu)、蒼鷺(lu)、鳳頭(tou)潛鴨(ya)、灰背隼、灰背鶇等(deng)32種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。列(lie)入《中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)人(ren)民共和國(guo)(guo)(guo)政府(fu)(fu)和澳大(da)(da)(da)(da)利亞(ya)政府(fu)(fu)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)候(hou)(hou)鳥(niao)及棲息(xi)環境(jing)(jing)的(de)協定》的(de)有(you)大(da)(da)(da)(da)白(bai)(bai)鷺(lu)、金眶鸻(heng)、紅腳鷸、磯鷸、普通燕鷗(ou)、白(bai)(bai)腰雨燕、家燕、灰鹡鸰(ling)、白(bai)(bai)鹡鸰(ling)、黃鹡鸰(ling)、黃頭(tou)鹡鸰(ling)11種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
敦(dun)(dun)煌(huang)(huang)西(xi)湖國家級自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)是(shi)(shi)一個極(ji)為(wei)典(dian)型的(de)(de)內(nei)陸(lu)濕(shi)地、荒(huang)(huang)漠(mo)生(sheng)態(tai)系(xi)統(tong)和野(ye)生(sheng)動植物(wu)(wu)類型自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu),是(shi)(shi)一個極(ji)為(wei)典(dian)型的(de)(de)內(nei)陸(lu)濕(shi)地、荒(huang)(huang)漠(mo)生(sheng)態(tai)系(xi)統(tong)和野(ye)生(sheng)動植物(wu)(wu)類型自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)。區(qu)(qu)內(nei)分布(bu)有大面積的(de)(de)、原始的(de)(de)天(tian)(tian)然植被、珍(zhen)稀野(ye)生(sheng)動植物(wu)(wu)和天(tian)(tian)然濕(shi)地,在(zai)(zai)中國西(xi)部生(sheng)態(tai)環境建設中有著極(ji)為(wei)重(zhong)要(yao)的(de)(de)戰略地位,它的(de)(de)興衰(shuai)與否關系(xi)著敦(dun)(dun)煌(huang)(huang)的(de)(de)生(sheng)態(tai)安全。在(zai)(zai)羅布(bu)泊干(gan)涸,塔(ta)克拉瑪干(gan)、庫姆塔(ta)格兩(liang)大沙漠(mo)日趨合擾的(de)(de)形勢下,敦(dun)(dun)煌(huang)(huang)西(xi)湖國家級自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)已成為(wei)阻擋塔(ta)克拉瑪干(gan)大沙漠(mo)東侵甘肅河西(xi)走廊的(de)(de)最后(hou)一道天(tian)(tian)然生(sheng)態(tai)屏(ping)障,它對保(bao)護(hu)(hu)敦(dun)(dun)煌(huang)(huang)乃(nai)至中國西(xi)部生(sheng)態(tai)平(ping)衡(heng),改(gai)善區(qu)(qu)域氣候條件,保(bao)證敦(dun)(dun)煌(huang)(huang)工農業生(sheng)產(chan)和旅游(you)產(chan)業的(de)(de)持續(xu)健康發展,特別是(shi)(shi)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)世界文化遺(yi)產(chan)莫(mo)高窟將起到非常重(zhong)要(yao)的(de)(de)作(zuo)用