保(bao)護區(qu)地理(li)坐標(biao):東經108°24′00″—108°36′10″之間(jian),北(bei)緯33°34′00″—33°22′00″,以平河(he)梁主(zhu)峰(feng)-龍(long)潭子為(wei)核(he)心。最(zui)高海拔2679米(mi);最(zui)低點海拔1265米(mi)。保(bao)護區(qu)總(zong)面積21152公(gong)(gong)(gong)頃,全部為(wei)國有(you)林。劃(hua)分為(wei)核(he)心區(qu)、緩沖(chong)區(qu)和(he)試驗區(qu),其中核(he)心區(qu)6510公(gong)(gong)(gong)頃,緩沖(chong)區(qu)6200公(gong)(gong)(gong)頃,實驗區(qu)8442公(gong)(gong)(gong)頃。
保護區位于秦嶺腹(fu)地(di),轄區地(di)域遼闊(kuo),人煙稀少,屬北亞熱帶濕潤(run)季風氣(qi)候,四季分明(ming),夏(xia)季涼爽多雨(yu),冬季干(gan)燥微寒(han),氣(qi)候垂直分布明(ming)顯,年(nian)降水(shui)量944.5毫米。良好的(de)生(sheng)態系(xi)統(tong)、森林環(huan)境和氣(qi)候條(tiao)件為珍稀野生(sheng)動植物(wu)(wu)提供良好的(de)棲息場所和食物(wu)(wu)基(ji)地(di),區內野生(sheng)動植物(wu)(wu)資源豐富,種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類繁多。經調查,分布有(you)168科(ke),728屬,1830種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜(shan)西種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子植物(wu)(wu)1143屬、4377種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)63.7%、41.8%。其中有(you)國(guo)家重點保護植物(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),省(sheng)級(ji)(ji)(ji)保護植物(wu)(wu)9種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。珍稀樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you):紅豆杉、秦嶺冷杉、大(da)果青桿、連香樹(shu)、水(shui)青樹(shu)、野大(da)豆、水(shui)曲柳等。保護區有(you)野生(sheng)脊(ji)椎動物(wu)(wu)289種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜(shan)西脊(ji)椎動物(wu)(wu)總數的(de)39.1%。其中有(you)國(guo)家一級(ji)(ji)(ji)重點保護物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)家二級(ji)(ji)(ji)重點保護物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)24種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),陜(shan)西省(sheng)省(sheng)級(ji)(ji)(ji)重點保護物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);我(wo)國(guo)特有(you)物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)63種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其中最具有(you)代(dai)表性(xing)的(de)有(you)大(da)熊貓、羚(ling)牛、川(chuan)金絲猴、朱鹮,“秦嶺四寶”。生(sheng)物(wu)(wu)多樣(yang)性(xing)豐富度較高,其原始性(xing)、稀有(you)性(xing)、典型性(xing)和代(dai)表性(xing)突(tu)出明(ming)顯,。
保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)(zi)然景觀包(bao)括(kuo)地(di)質、地(di)貌(mao)、氣候、水(shui)文、動物(wu)和(he)植物(wu)等,以(yi)高、寒、奇(qi)、險、特(te)為(wei)特(te)色(se)使(shi)該(gai)區(qu)(qu)成(cheng)為(wei)一處(chu)自(zi)(zi)(zi)然生(sheng)態環境獨特(te)的(de)(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)(zi)然綜合體。保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)森林茂密,覆蓋率高,對周圍地(di)區(qu)(qu)具有(you)重大的(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)態效益,主要體現在涵養水(shui)源、保(bao)(bao)持水(shui)土、凈(jing)化(hua)空氣、調節(jie)氣候和(he)提(ti)供自(zi)(zi)(zi)然生(sheng)態“本底(di)”等作用。平河梁自(zi)(zi)(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)(de)建立(li),將(jiang)北部的(de)(de)(de)牛背梁、東部的(de)(de)(de)鎮安鷹嘴石、西部的(de)(de)(de)寧(ning)陜自(zi)(zi)(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)有(you)機的(de)(de)(de)結(jie)合起來,形成(cheng)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)群(qun),為(wei)大熊貓及野生(sheng)動物(wu)提(ti)供了(le)良好的(de)(de)(de)棲息(xi)環境,使(shi)珍稀、瀕危物(wu)種得到更好的(de)(de)(de)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)與繁衍(yan)。
2011年(nian)12月9日順利通過(guo)國(guo)(guo)(guo)家環保部的(de)晉級(ji)評(ping)審(shen),2012年(nian)1月平(ping)河梁自然(ran)(ran)保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)通過(guo)國(guo)(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)國(guo)(guo)(guo)家級(ji)自然(ran)(ran)保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)評(ping)審(shen)委員會評(ping)審(shen)和公示(shi),保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)各(ge)項建設工作向前穩(wen)步推進(jin),實現人與自然(ran)(ran)的(de)和諧發展(zhan)。2013年(nian)6月4日,經國(guo)(guo)(guo)務院(yuan)辦公廳(ting)《國(guo)(guo)(guo)辦發[2013]48號》批(pi)準(zhun)平(ping)河梁自然(ran)(ran)保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)晉升(sheng)為國(guo)(guo)(guo)家級(ji)自然(ran)(ran)保護(hu)區(qu)(qu)。