保護(hu)(hu)區地理坐標:東經108°24′00″—108°36′10″之間(jian),北緯33°34′00″—33°22′00″,以平河梁主峰-龍潭子為(wei)核心。最高海拔2679米;最低點海拔1265米。保護(hu)(hu)區總面(mian)積(ji)21152公頃(qing),全部為(wei)國(guo)有林。劃(hua)分為(wei)核心區、緩沖(chong)區和試驗區,其中核心區6510公頃(qing),緩沖(chong)區6200公頃(qing),實驗區8442公頃(qing)。
保(bao)(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)位于秦嶺腹地(di),轄區(qu)(qu)地(di)域(yu)遼(liao)闊,人煙稀少,屬北亞熱帶濕潤季(ji)風氣候,四季(ji)分明,夏季(ji)涼爽多(duo)雨(yu),冬季(ji)干燥(zao)微寒(han),氣候垂直(zhi)分布明顯(xian)(xian),年降水量(liang)944.5毫米。良好(hao)的(de)生(sheng)(sheng)態系統(tong)、森林環境和(he)氣候條件(jian)為珍(zhen)稀野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)動植物(wu)提(ti)供(gong)良好(hao)的(de)棲息場所和(he)食物(wu)基地(di),區(qu)(qu)內野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)動植物(wu)資源豐富,種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)繁多(duo)。經調查(cha),分布有(you)(you)(you)(you)168科,728屬,1830種(zhong)(zhong),占(zhan)陜(shan)西(xi)(xi)種(zhong)(zhong)子植物(wu)1143屬、4377種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)63.7%、41.8%。其(qi)中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)國家(jia)(jia)重(zhong)(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護植物(wu)43種(zhong)(zhong),省(sheng)(sheng)級(ji)(ji)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護植物(wu)9種(zhong)(zhong)。珍(zhen)稀樹種(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you):紅豆(dou)杉(shan)、秦嶺冷杉(shan)、大(da)果青(qing)桿、連香樹、水青(qing)樹、野(ye)大(da)豆(dou)、水曲柳等。保(bao)(bao)(bao)護區(qu)(qu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)脊椎動物(wu)289種(zhong)(zhong),占(zhan)陜(shan)西(xi)(xi)脊椎動物(wu)總數的(de)39.1%。其(qi)中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)國家(jia)(jia)一級(ji)(ji)重(zhong)(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)6種(zhong)(zhong),國家(jia)(jia)二級(ji)(ji)重(zhong)(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)24種(zhong)(zhong),陜(shan)西(xi)(xi)省(sheng)(sheng)省(sheng)(sheng)級(ji)(ji)重(zhong)(zhong)點保(bao)(bao)(bao)護物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)20種(zhong)(zhong);我國特(te)有(you)(you)(you)(you)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)63種(zhong)(zhong)。其(qi)中(zhong)最具有(you)(you)(you)(you)代(dai)表性(xing)(xing)的(de)有(you)(you)(you)(you)大(da)熊貓、羚牛(niu)、川金絲猴、朱鹮(huan),“秦嶺四寶”。生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)多(duo)樣性(xing)(xing)豐富度(du)較高(gao),其(qi)原始(shi)性(xing)(xing)、稀有(you)(you)(you)(you)性(xing)(xing)、典型性(xing)(xing)和(he)代(dai)表性(xing)(xing)突出明顯(xian)(xian),。
保護區(qu)的自(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)景觀包括地(di)質、地(di)貌、氣候(hou)、水(shui)文、動物(wu)(wu)和植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)等,以高、寒(han)、奇、險、特(te)為特(te)色使該區(qu)成為一處自(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)生(sheng)態(tai)環境(jing)獨特(te)的自(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)綜合(he)體(ti)。保護區(qu)森林茂密(mi),覆蓋(gai)率高,對周圍地(di)區(qu)具有重大的生(sheng)態(tai)效(xiao)益,主要體(ti)現在涵(han)養水(shui)源、保持水(shui)土、凈化(hua)空氣、調節氣候(hou)和提供(gong)自(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)生(sheng)態(tai)“本底”等作用(yong)。平河梁自(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)保護區(qu)的建立,將北部(bu)的牛背梁、東部(bu)的鎮(zhen)安(an)鷹(ying)嘴(zui)石(shi)、西(xi)部(bu)的寧陜(shan)自(zi)(zi)(zi)然(ran)(ran)保護區(qu)有機的結合(he)起來,形成保護區(qu)群,為大熊(xiong)貓(mao)及野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)提供(gong)了良好(hao)的棲息環境(jing),使珍(zhen)稀、瀕(bin)危物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)得到更好(hao)的保護與繁衍。
2011年(nian)12月9日(ri)順利通過國(guo)(guo)(guo)家環保(bao)部的(de)晉級評(ping)(ping)審,2012年(nian)1月平河梁自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)通過國(guo)(guo)(guo)務院國(guo)(guo)(guo)家級自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)評(ping)(ping)審委員會評(ping)(ping)審和(he)公(gong)示,保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)各項建設工作向前穩(wen)步(bu)推進,實(shi)現人與(yu)自(zi)然的(de)和(he)諧發(fa)展。2013年(nian)6月4日(ri),經(jing)國(guo)(guo)(guo)務院辦(ban)公(gong)廳《國(guo)(guo)(guo)辦(ban)發(fa)[2013]48號》批(pi)準(zhun)平河梁自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)晉升為國(guo)(guo)(guo)家級自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區(qu)。