Biodiversity Diary a trip to Chi Shui — John MacKinnon
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Exploring Chishui
Jurassic Park
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Moutai’s water source Chishiu is a county at the extreme north of Guizhou province, only three hours drive from Chongqing.
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Biodiversity Diary ECBP Newsletter Supplements March 20-22 2009
The Chishui river is the home of Moutai. To preserve the water quality and heritage value, the government allows no dams or polluting industries on this branch of the Changjiang. This is unique on the otherwise highly polluted river system and results in the survival here of many otherwise endangered fish and amphibians.
The forests preserve a humid subtropical vegetation that has remained stable for several million years. Fossils of the same treeferns can be found beside living plants at the same locality. This too is almost unique in a planet that has seen such great shifts in climate throughout the ice age period. Chishui also exhibits both young and old erosion conditions of Danxia red sandstone. To the west we see gently eroded waterfalls and wide valleys but to the east we see a far more deeply eroded landscape of narrow ridges, stone pillars and deeper gorges. I joined a mixed team of experts on a brief visit to the site to help advise the county officials on how to apply for World Heritage Status for this extraordinary landscape.
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Rich life among the verdant forest It was a large team that carried out the survey and three cars had to climb the terrible roads to get to the best places. Staff of the nearby ECBP project from Chongqing joined local staff of the county, experts from the province and a
Racer snake and lycaenid butterflies
representative from Beijing Ministry of Construction who are the focal point for World heritage affairs in China
Tree-ferns form an ancient landscape
The site is one of several localities being nominated as a serial nomination as a natural World Heritage Site to protect the best examples of China’s Danxia or red sandstone landforms. The local authorities had done a good job in preparatory investigations, reports and even made lavish books and films about their pride reserve. A nice museum in Chishui town also presents the geology, fossils and nature of the site with great clarity.
Red-billed Magpie
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International geologists had already given
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Mao Bamboos
At every turn the forest is full of botanical wonders but little time to stop and admire them
Dwarf irises
their opinions. We were there to comment on the biodiversity values of the site. Special significance is placed on the numerous tree ferns that grow along the bottom of some of the wetter valleys. These are rare protected species that remain here as living fossils, remains of the age of dinousours.
Day-flying magpie moths
The exterior parts of the reserve remain green and woody
A red bed for the stream
but are clearly much affected by human activity. Large swathes are under management for Mao bamboo and clumps of Chinese fir tell a story of reforestation after earlier logging. But once we got into the core area proper, there was little sign of human activity. Butterflies flitted, snakes slithered and the air was full of the song of birds and cicadas.
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The only farmer in the valley There used to be a few families farming in the valleys within the reserve but now only one remains. An old man wife and giggling daughter were all that we met. They would claim to be poor and live a hard life growing what they need to eat and carrying the extra across steep mountain trails to the nearest market. But what space and freedom they enjoyed—the sight of green forest, the tinkle of clean stream water, the song of birds, hum of bees.
The old farmer preparing covers to protect seedlings Little forktail in stream
Peach blossoms and beehives. Idyllic lifestyle ?
Wild flowers and beetle
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If I ever retire that is the life I would choose. Who needs cash in hand and the stress of town life if you live like a king in your own tiny kingdom.
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The water and dampness
A wealth of mosses
The deep gorges provide shelter from wind and frost so plants can grow all yearround in great lushness. Chishui enjoys year-round subtropical climate and plenty of moisture. This has enabled it to remain stable for millions of years and support such a wealth of plants..
Fungi thrive on the deep leaf litter..
With high rainfall, eternal spray from the waterfalls and sub-tropical climate, the forest is a paradise for moisture loving plants
It was the moisture loving plants that impressed me most—the mosses and ferns and plants that grew in the permanent ‘rain’ of the splash zone of great waterfalls. in permanent ‘rain’. Forest violets Selaginella—primitive ferns
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Danxia landscape
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Irises
Geologists tell me that Chishui is the best sub-tropical example of the Danxia or red sandstone formations that occur in several parts of southern and central China. Indeed it is important to protect examples that still have their associated vegetation. The vegetation is part of the landscape and in no small way affects the way that rocks are held or cracked by water flow. Vegetation affects the local climate and direction of water run off.
The survey team halt for lunch in the middle of the core area of the nature reserve.
We left the site with high praise and hope the local authorities succeed in their application for World heritage status.
Scientists compare findings
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Sandstone, waterfalls and lush vegetation
Wild Camelia
Wild rhododendrons
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EU-China Biodiversity Programme Add: Rm. 503, FECO Plaza, Huoyingfang Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing. 100035, P.R. China Fax: (+8610) 8220 5421 Email: info@ecbp.cn