保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)于(yu)1982年建立, 2001年6月批(pi)準為國家級自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)。
保護區(qu)自(zi)1982年(nian)建區(qu)以來,就已開(kai)展以打擊(ji)偷盜(dao)獵、防止(zhi)亂挖亂采的巡護工作,野(ye)外工作以該項活(huo)動為主一直開(kai)展至1998年(nian)底,期間,在(zai)1984年(nian)-1987年(nian)與世(shi)界自(zi)然保護基(ji)金會合作在(zai)區(qu)開(kai)展進(jin)行了大(da)(da)熊(xiong)貓、亞洲黑熊(xiong)的生物,生態學研究工作;自(zi)1999年(nian)開(kai)始,保護區(qu)在(zai)省林業廳指導下,與WWF合作,開(kai)始進(jin)行大(da)(da)熊(xiong)貓及其棲(qi)息地監(jian)測工作,這也是中國保護區(qu)建區(qu)以來開(kai)展野(ye)外監(jian)測工作。
自2000年開始,保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)納入天然林(lin)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)工程,中國(guo)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)又(you)開展(zhan)了以(yi)天然林(lin)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)為(wei)重要內容(rong)的野(ye)外巡護(hu)(hu)工作(zuo)。
2001年起,先(xian)后有德國GTZ項目(mu)、德國KFW項目(mu)、以(yi)及GEF項目(mu)在區(qu)開展(zhan),逐(zhu)漸將以(yi)社(she)區(qu)為(wei)基礎的保(bao)護(hu)理(li)念引入中國保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)的保(bao)護(hu)管理(li)活動(dong)中,先(xian)后在周(zhou)(zhou)邊(bian)社(she)區(qu)開展(zhan)了野(ye)生(sheng)動(dong)物危(wei)害莊(zhuang)稼的監測、環境(jing)教育(yu)、社(she)區(qu)經(jing)濟情(qing)況調查、以(yi)及扶持周(zhou)(zhou)邊(bian)社(she)區(qu)經(jing)濟發展(zhan)等多項社(she)區(qu)工作;為(wei)不斷提升保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)保(bao)護(hu)管理(li)水平。
2001年起,合作開(kai)展(zhan)了野外紅外自拍相機安放(fang)以及亞洲黑熊(xiong)生態(tai)學研究(該項目尚在進行),并在區開(kai)展(zhan)了多期野生動物保(bao)護管理培(pei)訓班,為多個保(bao)護區培(pei)訓了一大批業務骨干。
保(bao)護區(qu)位于(yu)湖南省西部永順縣境內,地處武(wu)陵山(shan)西端。
區內常態(tai)地(di)(di)(di)貌(浸蝕流水地(di)(di)(di)貌)和巖溶地(di)(di)(di)貌同(tong)時發(fa)育,河(he)流侵(qin)蝕切割強烈,地(di)(di)(di)青(qing)破碎,起伏大,呈山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)(di)、山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)原、丘陵、崗地(di)(di)(di)及(ji)向(xiang)(xiang)斜(xie)谷地(di)(di)(di)等多種類型。水平(ping)方向(xiang)(xiang)由西北部(bu)砂頁巖侵(qin)蝕構造山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)(di)谷地(di)(di)(di)到(dao)中部(bu)碳(tan)酸巖溶蝕構造山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)原山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)(di),再(zai)到(dao)東(dong)南部(bu)變質巖侵(qin)蝕構造中山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)(di),具有(you)嶺(ling)谷相間,平(ping)行(xing)排列(lie)和明(ming)顯(xian)的水平(ping)地(di)(di)(di)域分異規(gui)律;在垂(chui)直方向(xiang)(xiang)上,隨地(di)(di)(di)勢(shi)增(zeng)高(gao),由現代(dai)河(he)床、溪(xi)谷平(ping)原到(dao)崗地(di)(di)(di)、丘陵再(zai)到(dao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)(di)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)原,具有(you)多層性(xing)和成層分布的規(gui)律。
境(jing)內崇山(shan)峻嶺(ling),永龍(long)山(shan)呈弧形雄居(ju)縣(xian)境(jing)西(xi)北(bei),人頭山(shan)蜿蜒東(dong)南,其間普岸山(shan)、萬福山(shan)、蟠龍(long)山(shan)、四方界、羊峰山(shan)、方石巖等(deng)山(shan)脈曲繞相(xiang)連,組成(cheng)斜“S”型,地(di)勢依(yi)此(ci)向東(dong)北(bei)部澧(li)水和南部酉水梯級(ji)下(xia)降,構成(cheng)了不對稱“鞍(an)狀(zhuang)”的(de)地(di)貌形態。境(jing)內山(shan)巒疊嶂,溪(xi)谷縱橫(heng),最高羊峰山(shan)海拔為1437.9米,最低小溪(xi)鯉魚坪的(de)明溪(xi)海拔為162.6米,高低相(xiang)差(cha)1275.3米,地(di)勢比降為44.6%。
保護區為深(shen)切割的中山山地(di)(di),區內(nei)山巒起伏,走向復雜(za)。地(di)(di)層(ceng)以變(bian)質巖(yan)為主(zhu)。
氣候年均溫11~12℃,無霜期較(jiao)低(di)處為(wei)250天,800米(mi)以上為(wei)200天;年降(jiang)水量1300~1400毫米(mi),濕度大、云霧多。
成土母質為砂頁巖,土壤肥力高,適宜(yi)林木生(sheng)長。
魚(yu)泉(quan)溪、小岔溪貫(guan)穿全區,匯合(he)后流入(ru)酉水河。
總面積26347.6公頃,其中(zhong)核(he)心(xin)區 9933公頃,森林(lin)蓄積總量222.35萬立方米,保(bao)護區已劃分為(wei)核(he)心(xin)區和外圍(wei)區。轄19個(ge)行政村,88個(ge)村民小組,2163戶8572 人,屬全球重(zhong)點保(bao)護的200個(ge)生態圈之一,是世(shi)界少有(you)、中(zhong)國獨有(you)、中(zhong)南十三省幸存的免遭(zao)第四(si)紀冰川侵襲的低海(hai)拔(ba)常綠闊葉(xie)原始次生林(lin)。
主要保護山(shan)地常綠闊(kuo)葉林生態系統(tong)。
保護區(qu)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)1500多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其中(zhong)木(mu)(mu)(mu)本植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)419種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。區(qu)內(nei)(nei)交通閉塞,原生低山闊(kuo)葉(xie)(xie)(xie)林(lin)(lin)保護較(jiao)好(hao),這在(zai)中(zhong)亞熱(re)帶是難得的(de)(de)(de)。常(chang)綠闊(kuo)葉(xie)(xie)(xie)林(lin)(lin)多(duo)分(fen)布(bu)(bu)在(zai)海拔400~800米(mi),溝谷(gu)以(yi)(yi)鉤栗、宜昌潤楠(nan)、猴(hou)歡喜、仿(fang)栗等(deng)為(wei)主,山坡上以(yi)(yi)甜櫧、石櫟、南嶺栲、銀(yin)(yin)木(mu)(mu)(mu)荷、楓香(xiang)為(wei)主。林(lin)(lin)內(nei)(nei)藤本植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)較(jiao)多(duo),大(da)(da)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)上有(you)(you)(you)(you)粗藤纏繞,為(wei)多(duo)層(ceng)次(ci)、多(duo)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)混交林(lin)(lin)。林(lin)(lin)相整齊。地(di)勢平緩處以(yi)(yi)馬尾松、杉(shan)(shan)木(mu)(mu)(mu)為(wei)第一(yi)林(lin)(lin)層(ceng)的(de)(de)(de)針(zhen)闊(kuo)葉(xie)(xie)(xie)混交林(lin)(lin),其中(zhong)合圍大(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)古(gu)杉(shan)(shan)木(mu)(mu)(mu)不少。植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)組成(cheng)除以(yi)(yi)樟科(ke)(ke)、山茶(cha)科(ke)(ke)、殼斗科(ke)(ke)、木(mu)(mu)(mu)蘭科(ke)(ke)為(wei)主的(de)(de)(de)常(chang)綠樹(shu)(shu)(shu)外,還有(you)(you)(you)(you)許多(duo)漆樹(shu)(shu)(shu)科(ke)(ke)、槭(qi)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)科(ke)(ke)、椴樹(shu)(shu)(shu)科(ke)(ke)、楊柳科(ke)(ke)、榆科(ke)(ke)、杜仲科(ke)(ke)、連(lian)香(xiang)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)科(ke)(ke)、茜草科(ke)(ke)、珙桐科(ke)(ke)、胡(hu)桃科(ke)(ke)和樺(hua)木(mu)(mu)(mu)科(ke)(ke)的(de)(de)(de)落葉(xie)(xie)(xie)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),是湘(xiang)西(xi)青岡、湘(xiang)西(xi)石櫟等(deng)21種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)模(mo)式(shi)標本的(de)(de)(de)產地(di)。 國家保護的(de)(de)(de)珍稀瀕危植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)18種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),一(yi)級(ji)有(you)(you)(you)(you)珙桐;二級(ji)有(you)(you)(you)(you)巴東木(mu)(mu)(mu)蓮(lian)、銀(yin)(yin)杏(xing)、水青樹(shu)(shu)(shu)、伯樂樹(shu)(shu)(shu)、連(lian)香(xiang)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)、香(xiang)果樹(shu)(shu)(shu)、杜仲、鵝掌楸;三級(ji)有(you)(you)(you)(you)楠(nan)木(mu)(mu)(mu)、閩(min)楠(nan)、黃(huang)杉(shan)(shan)、銀(yin)(yin)鵲(que)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)、領春木(mu)(mu)(mu)、白辛樹(shu)(shu)(shu)、華榛長苞鐵杉(shan)(shan)等(deng)。區(qu)內(nei)(nei)有(you)(you)(you)(you)纖(xian)維植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)150多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),油料(liao)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)120多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),干果類100種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),香(xiang)料(liao)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)100余種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。長苞杉(shan)(shan)多(duo)分(fen)布(bu)(bu)在(zai)海拔900米(mi)以(yi)(yi)上的(de)(de)(de)陡坡懸崖之上,頂(ding)風傲雪(xue),極耐干旱貧瘠。銀(yin)(yin)鵲(que)樹(shu)(shu)(shu)多(duo)分(fen)布(bu)(bu)在(zai)海拔800米(mi)以(yi)(yi)下(xia)的(de)(de)(de)山坡溝谷(gu)中(zhong),冠幅小(xiao),呈(cheng)塊狀分(fen)布(bu)(bu)。竹坪村有(you)(you)(you)(you)一(yi)棵大(da)(da)銀(yin)(yin)杏(xing),樹(shu)(shu)(shu)高30米(mi),胸徑1.4米(mi)。區(qu)內(nei)(nei)楠(nan)木(mu)(mu)(mu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類特(te)別多(duo),有(you)(you)(you)(you)閩(min)楠(nan)、湘(xiang)楠(nan)、紫楠(nan)、白楠(nan)、潤楠(nan)等(deng)16種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),故有(you)(you)(you)(you)“楠(nan)木(mu)(mu)(mu)之鄉”的(de)(de)(de)美稱(cheng)。猴(hou)歡喜:杜英(ying)科(ke)(ke)。常(chang)綠喬木(mu)(mu)(mu),高達12米(mi)。葉(xie)(xie)(xie)聚生小(xiao)枝上部(bu),花綠白色,數朵生于(yu)小(xiao)枝頂(ding)端或小(xiao)枝上部(bu)葉(xie)(xie)(xie)腋。蒴(shuo)果木(mu)(mu)(mu)質,卵球形,密(mi)生刺毛,裂成(cheng)五或六瓣。種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)有(you)(you)(you)(you)黃(huang)色假種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮。木(mu)(mu)(mu)材供板料(liao)、器具(ju)等(deng)用(yong)材。
有(you)(you)脊椎動物208種,隸屬23目70科,昆蟲(chong)19目144科738種,有(you)(you)天敵昆蟲(chong)9目 27科159種,其中(zhong)有(you)(you)金錢豹、云豹、白頸長尾(wei)雉等(deng)國家一(yi)(yi)、二(er)級(ji)(ji)保護(hu)動物36種。國家重(zhong)(zhong)點保護(hu)動物,一(yi)(yi)級(ji)(ji)有(you)(you)黑麝(she)(she)(she);二(er)級(ji)(ji)有(you)(you)林(lin)麝(she)(she)(she)、虎紋(wen)蛙等(deng)。 林(lin)麝(she)(she)(she)是麝(she)(she)(she)屬中(zhong)體(ti)型小的一(yi)(yi)種。體(ti)長70厘米(mi)左右,肩高47厘米(mi),體(ti)重(zhong)(zhong)7千克左右。雌雄(xiong)均無角;耳長直立,端部(bu)稍(shao)圓(yuan)。雄(xiong)麝(she)(she)(she)上(shang)犬(quan)齒發(fa)達,向后(hou)下(xia)方彎曲(qu),伸出唇(chun)外;腹部(bu)生殖(zhi)器前(qian)有(you)(you)麝(she)(she)(she)香囊,尾(wei)粗短,尾(wei)脂腺發(fa)達。四肢細長,后(hou)肢長于前(qian)肢。體(ti)毛(mao)粗硬色(se)(se)深,呈橄欖褐(he)色(se)(se),并染(ran)以(yi)橘(ju)紅(hong)色(se)(se)。下(xia)頜、喉(hou)部(bu)、頸下(xia)以(yi)至前(qian)胸間為界(jie)限分明(ming)的白色(se)(se)或橘(ju)黃色(se)(se)區。臀部(bu)毛(mao)色(se)(se)近(jin)黑色(se)(se),成體(ti)不具斑點。有(you)(you)人認為它是原麝(she)(she)(she)的一(yi)(yi)個亞種。
生活在(zai)針葉(xie)(xie)林、針闊混交(jiao)林區。性情膽怯。過獨居生活;嗅覺靈(ling)敏,行動輕快敏捷。隨氣候和飼料的(de)變化(hua)垂直遷移。食物(wu)多(duo)(duo)以灌木嫩(nen)枝(zhi)葉(xie)(xie)為(wei)主。發(fa)情交(jiao)配多(duo)(duo)在(zai)11~12月(yue)份,在(zai)此期間,雌雄(xiong)合(he)群,雄(xiong)性間發(fa)生激烈的(de)爭偶毆斗(dou)。孕期6個月(yue),每胎1~3仔。國內已有養殖,雄(xiong)麝所產麝香是名貴(gui)的(de)中藥材和高級(ji)香料。
小溪(xi)國家級自然保護區(qu)(qu)具有很高的(de)(de)科學(xue)研究(jiu)價值,被權威專家學(xue)者(zhe)考察論(lun)證為中(zhong)南(nan)十三省免遭第四紀冰川(chuan)侵襲的(de)(de)原始(shi)次生(sheng)林(lin)(lin)(lin)天然資源(yuan)寶庫(ku)。景(jing)區(qu)(qu)是以原始(shi)次生(sheng)林(lin)(lin)(lin)、峽(xia)谷、峰林(lin)(lin)(lin)地(di)貌景(jing)觀為特色的(de)(de)生(sheng)態(tai)旅(lv)游區(qu)(qu),區(qu)(qu)內林(lin)(lin)(lin)海浩渺,樹(shu)木蔥郁(yu),森林(lin)(lin)(lin)覆蓋率達到92.5%,負氧離子濃度高,空氣(qi)清新,環境宜人。林(lin)(lin)(lin)海縫隙中(zhong)險(xian)(xian)峽(xia)深(shen)澗,飛瀑流泉(quan),奇(qi)峰拔(ba)地(di),鳥(niao)鳴(ming)猿(yuan)啼(ti),間或偶現一(yi)兩(liang)棟(dong)土家木樓(lou),雞鳴(ming)犬吠,民風淳(chun)樸。小溪(xi)生(sheng)態(tai)旅(lv)游景(jing)區(qu)(qu)自然人文風光(guang)原始(shi)古樸,是理想的(de)(de)休閑(xian)度假、探險(xian)(xian)旅(lv)游勝地(di)。