China News Agency, Delingha, Qinghai, July 6 Telegram: Visiting the highest haloxylon ammodendron forest in China: "The sand returns to the green" and the ecology recovers year by year

　　Author Li Jiangning Pan Yujie

　　After several rainwater infiltrations, the Qaidam Basin in the Haixi Mongolian-Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province glowed with greenery. The Qaidam Basin is not only a rich cornucopia in China, but also one of the eight major deserts in China. Among them, the total area of ​​desertified land is nearly 9.47 million hectares, which is the highest altitude of desertification land in China. In the past, it was "eight hundred miles of uninhabited sea". "Wind blowing stones running" was once a true portrayal of this Gobi Desert allowed the wind and sand to wreak havoc.

　　Here, the tallest Haloxylon ammodendron forest grows in China, and it is also the most primitive nature of Haloxylon ammodendron forest in China. Haloxylon ammodendron forest has the functions of reducing wind speed, blocking quicksand, and increasing air humidity, and has extremely high ecological value and scientific research value. However, due to the increase in population and the excessive use of resources in the last century, the local people extensively felled Haloxylon ammodendron for fuelwood and livestock feed, combined with excessive grazing, which caused extensive shrinkage and death of Haloxylon ammodendron forest. This Haloxylon ammodendron forest has become an ecological barrier in urgent need of protection in western China.

　　Recently, a reporter from China News Service came to the Qinghai Chaidamu Haloxylon ammodendron National Nature Reserve (hereinafter referred to as the Haloxylon ammodendron Nature Reserve) located in the desert area in the east of the Qaidam Basin, where the plateau desert ecosystem is the main object of protection Nature reserve. The total area of ​​the reserve is 37.34 million hectares. In June 2013, it was promoted to a national nature reserve with the approval of the State Council of China.

　　Entering the area of ​​the Suoshulin Nature Reserve, everything that catches your eyes seems to have nothing to do with the word "Gobi". The line of Suoshulin stretches deep into the Gobi.

　　"My job content has changed from the previous tree planting, patrolling and catching the felling people to the current routine maintenance of the forest area." Chen Yongkui, 47, is a forest ranger at the Gahai Conservation Station in the Shuosuo Forest Reserve , Has been working here for 14 years.

　　New trees are planted every year, and trees are replanted every year. Although the difficulty of work is reduced nowadays, the area of ​​patrol is getting bigger and bigger. "Every morning at more than nine o'clock, I took steamed buns and water with other rangers, and rode a motorcycle from the protection station to patrol the mountain, usually come back at four or five in the afternoon." Chen Yongkui said, "our protection station needs patrol There are more than 60,000 hectares of Haloxylon ammodendron, which can be completely converted in almost 23 days.

　　Chen Yongkui spent most of his time in the protection station, rested for 7 days a month, and returned to his home 23 kilometers away to meet his family briefly. But for these, Chen Yongkui feels worth it. "These shuttles are like my children. For a long time, I have feelings for this forest. Protecting the shuttle forest is protecting the Qaidam Basin."

　　Nowadays, the illegal logging of trees in the Haloxylon ammodendron protection area has almost disappeared, but the illegal excavation of Chinese herbal medicines occurs in April and May every year. "There are a lot of precious Chinese medicinal herbs in Susuo Lin, including Cynomorium and Cistanche, and we will increase supervision every April and May." Chen Yongkui said.

　　It is understood that there are also 4 species of China's first-level key protected animals and 7 species of second-level protected animals in Haloxylon ammodendron. "The environment has improved in recent years. When we go to the mountains, we often see a lot of wild animals. Some time ago we saw the footprints of wolves." Chen Yongkui told reporters. Goose-throated gazelle, sand fox, sand grouse... When talking about the wild animals in the Shuttle Forest Reserve, Chen Yongkui is like a family treasure.

　　Thanks to the efforts of Chen Yongkui and other staff in the Susuolin Forest Reserve, the Haloxylon ammodendron population in the Qaidam Basin has gradually recovered. At present, ecological restoration of 16,000 mu has been completed. The ecology of the Qaidam Basin has also improved significantly.

　　It is understood that since 2017, the Susuolin Nature Reserve has carried out informatization construction, scientific research monitoring, ecological restoration, technology promotion and infrastructure construction projects. Through the implementation of the project, it has also provided employment for local people and college graduates post. (Finish)