它是雅礱江和黃河(he)(he)上(shang)游重要(yao)的(de)水(shui)源補給地(di),與(yu)青海三江源國(guo)家級自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區通天(tian)河(he)(he)、扎陵湖(hu)、鄂陵湖(hu)核心區直接相連,形(xing)成(cheng)不可替(ti)代的(de)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)網絡,具有全球(qiu)意(yi)義的(de)生物多(duo)樣性(xing)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)價值。
長沙貢瑪自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)(hu)區始建于1995年(nian),建立之初為(wei)州級(ji)(ji)自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)(hu)區,1997年(nian)晉(jin)升為(wei)省(sheng)級(ji)(ji)自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)(hu)區。自(zi)2006年(nian)開始,該保護(hu)(hu)區申請晉(jin)升國家級(ji)(ji),歷時3年(nian),在(zai)國家林業局和(he)環(huan)境保護(hu)(hu)部(bu)的大力支持下,2009年(nian)成功晉(jin)級(ji)(ji)國家級(ji)(ji)自(zi)然(ran)保護(hu)(hu)區。
長沙貢瑪(ma)是(shi)西(xi)藏(zang)(zang)野(ye)(ye)驢(lv)在(zai)四(si)川的庇護(hu)所(suo),區內(nei)分布的西(xi)藏(zang)(zang)野(ye)(ye)驢(lv)種(zhong)(zhong)群數(shu)量(liang)超過四(si)川省(sheng)該(gai)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)個體(ti)總(zong)數(shu)的一(yi)半。除此以外,長沙貢馬還擁(yong)有(you)(you)豐富的生(sheng)物(wu)多樣(yang)性,區內(nei)共分布有(you)(you)44種(zhong)(zhong)獸(shou)類(lei)(lei)(lei)、155種(zhong)(zhong)鳥類(lei)(lei)(lei)、3種(zhong)(zhong)兩(liang)棲類(lei)(lei)(lei)、6種(zhong)(zhong)魚類(lei)(lei)(lei),包(bao)括(kuo)16種(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)家一(yi)級(ji)重點保(bao)(bao)護(hu)野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)和32種(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)家二級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)。保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區內(nei)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)平均海(hai)(hai)拔(ba)高度(du)4500米,其獨特(te)的淡水草本(ben)沼(zhao)澤(ze)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)為中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)高緯度(du)、高海(hai)(hai)拔(ba)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)帶所(suo)獨有(you)(you),是(shi)四(si)川省(sheng)的濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區之(zhi)一(yi)。它(ta)與(yu)若(ruo)爾蓋濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)共同(tong)起源于(yu)第四(si)紀末(mo)次冰川冰磧湖(hu)泊的退縮。保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區內(nei)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)面積27萬余公(gong)頃(qing),占保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區總(zong)面積的41%,其中(zhong)嵩草-苔草沼(zhao)澤(ze)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)20萬公(gong)頃(qing)、嵩草沼(zhao)澤(ze)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)1萬公(gong)頃(qing)、其它(ta)類(lei)(lei)(lei)型濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)6萬公(gong)頃(qing),包(bao)括(kuo)471個冰磧湖(hu)泊,蓄水總(zong)量(liang)達670億立方米,相當于(yu)1/5個三峽(xia)庫容。
其主要保(bao)護(hu)(hu)對(dui)(dui)象的典型性(xing)(xing)(xing)、稀有性(xing)(xing)(xing)、瀕危性(xing)(xing)(xing)、代表性(xing)(xing)(xing)較強,在(zai)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)生(sheng)物(wu)多(duo)樣性(xing)(xing)(xing)和生(sheng)物(wu)資源(yuan)、維持生(sheng)態(tai)系(xi)統良性(xing)(xing)(xing)循(xun)環(huan)、促進(jin)人與自(zi)然(ran)(ran)和諧發展、積極應對(dui)(dui)氣候(hou)變化(hua)等方面(mian),具有重(zhong)要作用。保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區內藏野驢數量多(duo),密度(du)高(gao),在(zai)同類型自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區中(zhong)是極為少見;長(chang)沙貢瑪自(zi)然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區是長(chang)江、黃河(he)的源(yuan)頭(tou)地(di)區,區內大面(mian)積的高(gao)山(shan)草甸(dian)和高(gao)寒濕地(di)對(dui)(dui)于保(bao)護(hu)(hu)高(gao)山(shan)草甸(dian)生(sheng)態(tai)系(xi)統和穩定長(chang)江、黃河(he)水源(yuan)都具有重(zhong)要意義(yi)。