China News Service, Xining, November 3rd: Protector of the source of Huangshui River: continuous improvement of ecology is the best reward
Author Li Junyumei
In the late autumn of the plateau, in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, on the north bank of Qinghai Lake, the Jinyintan grassland turns golden.
Following Zhang Zonghua and Zhu Xiulian, senior grassland teachers of Haiyan County Grassland Station, Haibei Prefecture, the reporter started a journey to find the source of Huangshui River.
Huangshui River, also known as Xining River, is an important tributary of the Yellow River flowing through Xining.
Located in the east of Qinghai Province, China, it originates from Baohutu Mountain, Haiyan County, Haibei Prefecture, flows through Xining City, Haidong City, and enters the Yellow River at Dajiachuan in the west of Lanzhou City, Gansu Province.
With a length of 349 kilometers and a drainage area of more than 3,200 square kilometers, it is the third largest tributary of the Yellow River.
The picture shows Baohutu Mountain, Haiyan County, Haibei Prefecture, the birthplace of the Huangshui River.
(Data map) Photo by Li Jun
Zhang Zonghua and Zhu Xiulian, who are called "prairie engineers" by the local people, said: "We are the grass guards. In summer and autumn, we basically work in the field every day, killing rodents and checking grassland vegetation. Staying on the grassland is a whole day. sky."
Going north along the Maxiusi River, the branch of Qilian Mountain can be seen in the distance.
At the foot of Datong Mountain, a lush pasture surrounded by net fences attracted everyone's attention.
"We replanted this grass through the ecological restoration project. You can see how good it looks." Zhang Zonghua looked at the grass he planted with a smile on his face.
This pasture has been degraded into a black soil beach before. In 2021, new grass will be planted through the grassland degradation replanting project. This year, the bare ground is completely invisible.
For this pasture, Zhang Zonghua and the others shed tears a lot.
"At that time, grazing was banned for re-broadcasting, and the masses did not agree." Zhang Zonghua and Zhu Xiulian explained that this place is located at the source of the Huangshui River, and the implementation of governance is urgent, but the restoration projects that can be applied for are blocked by the masses.
"In June last year, we reasoned and worked for each household before and after. After a month of grinding, the talents in the village agreed with us to re-broadcast. Now the grass is growing so well, it's worth doing anything!" Zhang Zonghua said with a smile. The area of reseeding pastures encircled by small patches is 670 hectares.
The picture shows the grassland division and the local herdsmen checking the grassland vegetation.
(Data map) Photo by Li Jun
There are many streams in the mountains, and spring water can be seen everywhere.
Walking to the depths of Baohutu Mountain, Dorje Tashi, a herdsman in Tuohua Village, Ganzihe Township, was checking the growth of the pasture. The source of the Huangshui River is in his pasture.
"We still have to walk about a kilometer to the source. The altitude is nearly 4,400 meters. Although it is cold and remote, few people come here, but the ecology is fragile. We know that protecting the ecological environment is very important. We only stay here for more than 40 days a year, and minimize the environmental impact. Influence." Dorje Tashi said while riding.
Dorje Tashi introduced that after they returned to the autumn grassland, he would visit the grassland here every once in a while.
He looks forward to one day when this place can also become part of a nature reserve and receive more scientific and perfect management and protection.
At the source of the Huangshui River, there is a statue of a Tibetan woman scooping water into a bucket, and a Tibetan antelope is standing beside her.
Next to the statue is a stone tablet with the words "the source of the Huangshui River" written on the top, and the three words "Mother River" are engraved on the base.
The water quality at the source, just like a mother's health status, directly determines the physique of the "child" she gives birth to and the quality of life it brings to the people downstream.
The picture shows the striking stone tablet at the source of the Huangshui River.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Haiyan Fusion Media
The people at the source of the Huangshui River are well aware of this truth.
When Dorje Tashi and his wife were here, they took the initiative to patrol the grassland area. After they left, the ecological caretaker Xiang Qibu and his colleagues took full responsibility for the work.
"The blue sheep and roe deer are often seen. When I patrol, I mainly check whether there are any wild animals injured or people destroying the water source." Xiang Qibu said.
It takes at least an hour to ride a motorcycle from the village where he lives to the patrol site. In winter, it is difficult to walk in the wind and snow. No matter how difficult the conditions are, he and his colleagues never slack off in their work.
The ecological environment has continued to improve over the years, along with the increase in wild animals and the further enrichment of biodiversity, which is the best reward for them.
Since the beginning of this year, Haiyan County has assigned the duties of village-level cleaners, forestry managers, grassland managers, river inspectors, and ecological grid personnel to ecological environment managers, integrating funds, and vigorously improving environmental remediation in farming and pastoral areas. The working methods of personnel, improve the level of living environment governance in farming and pastoral areas, and promote high-quality protection of the ecological environment.
"Countless mountain streams gushing down from Baohutu Mountain converge into the source of the Huangshui River. They will flow to the three cities of Xining, Haidong and Lanzhou, and throw themselves into the embrace of the Yellow River. For the sake of my hometown and people along the river, I will Do your best to protect the ecological environment here." Xiang Qibu said.
(Finish)