保護區(qu)地理坐標:東(dong)經108°24′00″—108°36′10″之間,北緯33°34′00″—33°22′00″,以平河梁主峰(feng)-龍(long)潭子為(wei)(wei)(wei)核(he)心(xin)。最(zui)高海拔2679米;最(zui)低點海拔1265米。保護區(qu)總(zong)面(mian)積21152公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),全(quan)部為(wei)(wei)(wei)國有林。劃分(fen)為(wei)(wei)(wei)核(he)心(xin)區(qu)、緩沖(chong)區(qu)和試驗區(qu),其中核(he)心(xin)區(qu)6510公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),緩沖(chong)區(qu)6200公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing),實(shi)驗區(qu)8442公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)(qing)。
保護區(qu)(qu)位于秦(qin)嶺(ling)(ling)腹(fu)地,轄區(qu)(qu)地域遼闊(kuo),人煙稀少,屬(shu)北亞熱帶濕潤季(ji)風氣(qi)候,四季(ji)分(fen)(fen)明(ming),夏季(ji)涼爽多(duo)雨,冬季(ji)干燥微寒,氣(qi)候垂直分(fen)(fen)布(bu)(bu)明(ming)顯,年降水(shui)(shui)量944.5毫(hao)米(mi)。良好的(de)生態系統、森林環(huan)境和(he)氣(qi)候條件為珍(zhen)稀野(ye)生動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)提供良好的(de)棲(qi)息場(chang)所和(he)食(shi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)基(ji)地,區(qu)(qu)內(nei)野(ye)生動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)資源豐富,種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類繁多(duo)。經調查,分(fen)(fen)布(bu)(bu)有(you)(you)168科,728屬(shu),1830種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜(shan)西(xi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)1143屬(shu)、4377種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)63.7%、41.8%。其(qi)(qi)中有(you)(you)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)重點保護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),省(sheng)級保護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)9種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。珍(zhen)稀樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you):紅豆杉、秦(qin)嶺(ling)(ling)冷(leng)杉、大(da)果青(qing)桿、連香(xiang)樹、水(shui)(shui)青(qing)樹、野(ye)大(da)豆、水(shui)(shui)曲(qu)柳等。保護區(qu)(qu)有(you)(you)野(ye)生脊(ji)椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)289種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占陜(shan)西(xi)脊(ji)椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)總數的(de)39.1%。其(qi)(qi)中有(you)(you)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)一(yi)級重點保護物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)(guo)家(jia)二級重點保護物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)24種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),陜(shan)西(xi)省(sheng)省(sheng)級重點保護物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);我(wo)國(guo)(guo)特有(you)(you)物(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)63種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其(qi)(qi)中最具有(you)(you)代表(biao)性(xing)(xing)的(de)有(you)(you)大(da)熊貓、羚牛、川金(jin)絲猴、朱(zhu)鹮,“秦(qin)嶺(ling)(ling)四寶”。生物(wu)(wu)(wu)多(duo)樣性(xing)(xing)豐富度較高,其(qi)(qi)原始性(xing)(xing)、稀有(you)(you)性(xing)(xing)、典型性(xing)(xing)和(he)代表(biao)性(xing)(xing)突出(chu)明(ming)顯,。
保護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)的自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)景觀包括地質、地貌、氣候、水文、動(dong)物(wu)和(he)植物(wu)等,以高(gao)、寒、奇、險(xian)、特(te)(te)為(wei)特(te)(te)色使該區(qu)(qu)成為(wei)一處自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)生態(tai)環境獨特(te)(te)的自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)綜合(he)體(ti)。保護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)森林茂(mao)密,覆蓋率(lv)高(gao),對周圍地區(qu)(qu)具(ju)有重大的生態(tai)效(xiao)益(yi),主(zhu)要體(ti)現在涵養水源、保持水土、凈化空氣、調節(jie)氣候和(he)提供(gong)自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)生態(tai)“本底”等作用。平河梁(liang)自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)保護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)的建立(li),將(jiang)北部的牛(niu)背梁(liang)、東部的鎮(zhen)安鷹嘴石、西部的寧陜自(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)保護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)有機的結合(he)起來,形成保護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)群(qun),為(wei)大熊貓及野生動(dong)物(wu)提供(gong)了良好的棲息環境,使珍稀、瀕危物(wu)種得(de)到更好的保護(hu)(hu)(hu)與繁衍。
2011年(nian)12月(yue)9日順利通過(guo)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)環保(bao)(bao)部的(de)晉級(ji)(ji)評審,2012年(nian)1月(yue)平河梁自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)通過(guo)國(guo)(guo)務院國(guo)(guo)家(jia)級(ji)(ji)自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)評審委(wei)員會評審和公示(shi),保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)各項建設工作向前(qian)穩(wen)步推進(jin),實現人與自然(ran)(ran)的(de)和諧發展。2013年(nian)6月(yue)4日,經國(guo)(guo)務院辦公廳《國(guo)(guo)辦發[2013]48號》批準(zhun)平河梁自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)晉升為國(guo)(guo)家(jia)級(ji)(ji)自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)(bao)護區(qu)。