Water Resources eAtlas
 

AS29 Yangtze
Watersheds of Asia and Oceania
     

 

 

 

Land Cover and Use Variables
  
Percent Forest Cover: 6.3
Percent Grassland, Savanna and Shrubland: 28.2
Percent Wetlands: 3.0
Percent Cropland: 47.6
Percent Irrigated Cropland: 7.1
Percent Dryland Area: 2.0
Percent Urban and Industrial Area: 3.0
Percent Loss of Original Forest Cover: 84.9

 
 
 

Basin Indicators
  
Basin Area (sq. km.): 1,722,193
Average Population Density (people per sq. km.): 214
Number of Large Cities (>100,000 people): 9
Water Supply per Person (1995) (m3/person/year): 2,265
Degree of river fragmentation: Medium
Number of Dams (>15m high) in Basin: 63
Number of Dams (>150m high) in Basin: 4
Number of Dams (>60m high) under Construction: 38
Number of Dams (>15m high) on Main Stem of River: 17
Number of Dams (>150m high) on Main Stem of River: 0

 
 
 

Biodiversity Information and Indicators
  
Number of Fish Species: 322
Number of Fish Endemics: -
Number of Amphibian Species: 169
Number of Ramsar Sites: 4
Number of Wetland-Dependent IBAs: -
Number of Endemic Bird Areas: 6
Percent Protected Area: 1.7

The most threatened crocodile species in the world, the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is only found in the lower reaches of the Yangtze basin. It is classified as critically endangered by IUCN, with less than 150 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. This basin is also home to the Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer). This species is the most critically endangered cetacean in the world, with only few tens of individuals remaining. Dam development, habitat degradation due to pollution, and ship collisions are the major threats to the species. The other cetacean found in the Yangtze basin is the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides). This is the world's only freshwater-adapted porpoise, whose population is rapidly declining. The species is classified as endangered by IUCN.

 
 

 

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