Xinhua News Agency, Lhasa, July 13 Title: 700,000 "Ecological Guard" to protect the green waters and green mountains of Tibet
Xinhua News Agency reporter Tian Jinwen
The reporter learned from the Tibet Autonomous Region government that in recent years, Tibet has combined the protection and construction of ecological security barriers to increase the transfer payment of key national ecological function areas, so that the masses can fully enjoy the ecological policy dividends. According to statistics, since 2016, Tibet has provided 700,000 ecological jobs for the masses, and the masses have increased their income by nearly 4 billion yuan.
Herdsmen lead sheep through Selinco (drone photo on April 29, 2020). Xinhua News Agency reporter Tian Jinwen
On a mid-summer morning, in the Selinco National Nature Reserve, the wild guard Tsicheng Taqing left the house early in the morning. "This season is the season for the Tibetan antelope to give birth. I patrol around the reserve every morning to observe the wild animals and see if they need help." Tsicheng Taqing said. "The job of the wild guard is very good. It can not only contribute to the protection of the ecological environment of the hometown, but also earn a salary."
In Shenzha County, Nagqu City, Tibet Autonomous Region, there are 42 wild guards like Cicheng Taqing, each of whom earns 3,000 yuan per month. Thanks to their efforts, the ecological environment of Selincuo National Nature Reserve is currently well maintained.
Tacheng Taqing (third from left in the first row) and fellow forest rangers (photo taken on February 14, 2021). Xinhua News Agency reporter Tian Jinwen
This is due to the fact that Tibet relies on special project funds such as national grassland ecological protection subsidies and awards, forest ecological benefit compensation, etc., to implement the policy of assigning posts and assigning staff, assigning responsibilities and paying salaries to the poor who have the ability to work.
In Zhaxue Township, Mozhugongka County, Lhasa City, Pu Tsering has been guarding the mountain forest for several years.
Pu Tsering said that more than a decade ago, local people needed firewood for heating and cooking in winter, and nearby villagers used to go up the mountain to cut down trees. Not only that, but in Mozhugongka County, there are also wild animals such as black-necked cranes and red deer that migrate and live here being poached.
Due to the large area of the reserve, Pu Tsering spent a lot of time on each patrol. When he met someone who was cutting down trees, he would patiently persuade them, and he would also carry out publicity and education on ecological protection in nearby villages. If he did not listen to the persuasion of education, he would take them back to the control station and wait for the relevant departments to come and deal with them.
Farmers and herdsmen no longer compete with nature for food, but eat ecological protection food. By participating in public welfare forest management and protection to obtain labor income, the living conditions of some ordinary people have been substantially changed. In Zhaxue Township, where bicycles were formerly only seen, now every household has a motorcycle, and some people even drive a car.
Nowadays, more and more farmers and herdsmen have become rangers, forest rangers, and wetland conservationists, becoming "ecological guardians" of the snowy plateau, and also achieving increased income in protecting the environment.