Why biodiversity has become a "hot spot" here
"Guangming Daily" (September 25, 2021 09 Edition)
[Co-build a community of life on earth•action]
Not long ago, two little rabbits from Shiqu County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan became "net celebrities"-the photographer photographed two very rare national second-class protected animals in the Changsha Gongma National Nature Reserve. The little animal shook its head and was cute and cute. The photos and videos immediately aroused the enthusiasm of netizens as soon as they were released.
Not only rabbits, but also white-lipped deer, snow leopards, leopards, Tibetan wild donkeys, brown bears... In recent years, various local national-level protected animals have frequently appeared on short video platforms.
Located in the mountains of southwest China, Ganzi Prefecture in Sichuan is one of the 36 internationally recognized biodiversity hotspots.
Internationally, biodiversity hotspots are generally selected based on the number of endemic species and the degree of threat.
The territory of Ganzi prefecture includes river valleys with an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, as well as snow-capped mountains with an altitude of more than 6,000 meters. The combination of complex terrain and special climate makes this area extremely rich in biological species.
Monitoring data show that there are 5223 species of higher plants and 749 species of wild vertebrates in Ganzi Prefecture, and the trend of restorative growth of the population of wild animal and plant species is obvious.
Recently, the reporter made a special trip to Ganzi Prefecture to explore the mystery of biodiversity conservation and development here...
Maintain the ecological bottom line of biodiversity protection
The plateau in August is full of green.
On the vast grassland of Qiwu Township, Shiqu County, Ganzi Prefecture, bamboo curtain fences are connected into one piece and stretched into the distance.
The pasture in the fence is flourishing and growing well.
However, a few years ago, there was still a devastated black soil beach-sporadic grass growing in summer, and a sandy beach in winter.
The wind blows up and the black soil beach continues to swallow the green grassland.
"This kind of mild desertification is manageable and controllable." The relevant person in charge of the Shiqu County Forestry and Grass Bureau is determined to race against the grassland desertification and completely reverse the situation before the situation worsens.
To this end, they used bamboo curtains to enclose the black soil beach into small patches to fix the sand, and improved the soil with cattle and sheep dung, and then mixed grass to consolidate the results of sand control.
Five or six years have passed, and the black soil beaches have basically returned to green.
Liu Zherong, a doctoral student introduced by Shiqu County Forestry and Grass Bureau, specializes in plant diversity protection and utilization.
She told reporters that one of the difficult problems that must be solved in combating desertification on the plateau in northwest Sichuan is how to both combat desertification and get rich.
Most of the desertified land in Ganzi Prefecture is caused by overgrazing, which has formed a vicious circle for a long time: overgrazing—land desertification—grazing reduction—poverty of herders—overgrazing...
Over the years, Ganzi Prefecture has relied on market means to guide the masses to actively participate in sand control and obtain labor income.
In the process of participating in desertification control, farmers and herdsmen have gradually realized that overgrazing is unsustainable-"You see how difficult it is to control sand! If there is no more grass, cattle and sheep will have to starve to death."
In Liu Zherong's experimental field, separate small plots were planted with different pastures, growing in different conditions.
She will use a few years to screen out the pastures with high yield, good tolerance, and the most suitable for the local climate, to help expand the yield and carrying capacity of the grassland.
Located in an important water conservation area in the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, Ganzi has made far more efforts than just sand control.
In recent years, Ganzi Prefecture has made great efforts to promote ecological restoration, completing ecological restoration of 4,584,900 mu of soil erosion, dry valleys, desertified land, and degraded grasslands. It has built 1 internationally important wetland, 2 provincial-level important wetlands, and national "green water and green mountains". "Jinshan Yinshan" practice innovation base, 1 national scenic spot, 5 national forest parks, 3 national wetland parks, good rate of ambient air quality, good rate of surface water monitoring section water quality and drinking water source The water quality compliance rate achieved 3 "100%."
The “ecologically fragile area” has been built into an “ecological demonstration area”, and Ganzi Prefecture has maintained the ecological bottom line of carrying biodiversity.
Let the people become staunch guardians of wildlife
Zimei Village at the bottom of Zimei Pass of Gongga Snow Mountain is a small village with only 10 families.
"Although our village has few people, it is not lonely. Snow leopards, rock sheep, tufted deer, pig badgers, leopard cats, and snow pigeons are all our good friends." said Kampot, a villager.
Gongga Mountain is known as the "King of Shu Mountain". There are snow-capped mountains, forests, meadows and lakes. The distinctive climatic transitional characteristics have created abundant plant and animal resources, and the Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve was established for this reason.
Judging from the map, Zimei Village is just an "enclave", tightly surrounded by a protected area.
"The common people here are our administrators and promoters for the protection of biodiversity." According to the person in charge of the Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve, the reserve has hired patrol team members to carry out daily patrols in every nearby village. Protect, play the role of "eyes", "ears" and "mouth".
Kampot is a patrol team.
Zimei Village is a necessary place for trekking and expeditions in the Gongga Snow Mountain, and it is also an important base for "allies".
In addition to daily patrols, villagers also participate in the management of tourist industries such as inns, and their lives are getting better and better.
Hunters and loggers took the initiative to change their identities and became staunch guardians of the flora and fauna on this mountain.
The reporter found that in the Gexigou National Nature Reserve, many former hunters took advantage of their familiarity with the habits of wild animals and turned into guides. They used footprints and feces to accurately judge their laws of action, and worked on species surveys, monitoring, and research. Played an important role.
In recent years, scientists have successively monitored cats such as leopards, snow leopards, lynx, Asian golden cats, desert cats, rabbits, and leopard cats in Xinlong County, Ganzi Prefecture. This has become one of the most concentrated areas of cats in the world.
According to industry experts, most of these cats are distributed outside the protected area. To protect them, the active participation of the community is very important.
In the Yimai community of Sewei Town, Xinlong County, the government leaders, expert guidance, and the participation of the masses in the "Tripartite Cooperation" work strategy allow the community to participate in nature protection and obtain income.
Over the past few years, the community has restored hundreds of acres of forest, effectively improving the habitat protection outside the protected area.
At present, there are 83 nature reserves of all levels and types under the management of the forestry and grass department in Ganzi Prefecture, including 1 world-class, 17 national-level, and 65 local-level. The total area is about 55,300 square kilometers, accounting for about the entire prefecture. 36.14% of the area.
Let the people become participants and direct beneficiaries of wildlife protection, and become a powerful force in promoting the protection and development of biodiversity.
Rescue endangered species like a "milk baby"
"Tian Road Eighteen Bends" is a famous section of 318 National Road in Yajiang County, Ganzi Prefecture.
The highway makes more than ten turnarounds in succession here, and the altitude rises rapidly. It is known as "the most beautiful forest landscape area on the Sichuan-Tibet line".
In the grass outside the first bend, saplings of Kangding spruce are hidden.
"It was transplanted from the nursery this spring." Li Bajin, deputy director of the Service Center of Yajiang County Nature Reserve, told reporters that in order to ensure the survival rate, they transplanted with soil, and only 2 of the 128 saplings died.
Kangding spruce is a unique tree species that grows in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and has important scientific value.
However, this tree was once thought to be extinct.
Fortunately, about 10 years ago, scientists discovered a spruce in Yajiang County, which became the only wild Kangding spruce discovered so far.
Rescue work began immediately.
Li Bajin led the forest rangers to gather seeds and cultivate them in the nursery.
They always failed at first. They repeatedly adjusted water, fertilizer, and temperature, and "cared for a "milk baby" (baby). Finally, they managed to cultivate more than 300 young saplings.
These saplings were cultivated in the greenhouse for two years and then moved to the field. Five years later, they grew to more than 10 centimeters in height. It was only this year that the first batch of transplanting was attempted.
"So far, Xiao Miao has grown well in the wild, but he has to survive this winter before he can successfully return to nature." When it comes to this, Li Bajin is very excited, and he hopes that this place will become Kangding Spruce regained a new life. starting point.
In Ganzi, there are many stories about rescuing rare species.
Acer quinquefolia is an endangered tree species differentiated during the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and it is very difficult to reproduce naturally.
Yang An, an employee of the Yajiang County Seedling Breeding Base, has reached retirement age and still insists on working because he has taken care of a batch of Acer quinquefolia for five or six years before being transplanted to the mountain next year.
"This is like my own child, how can I give up halfway?" Yalong River Dongmadou is mainly distributed in river valleys and is in a critically endangered state.
After arduous cultivation, the State-owned Forest Protection Administration of Xinlong County has bred more than 400,000 seedlings and completed 1,000 acres of field planting.
"When the spring breeze comes, the rare tree species will grow into forests, the mountains will blossom, and the green waves will rise. That will be my proudest thing!" Li Bajin's dream is the dream of many foresters who rescue endangered tree species. , Is the dream shared by countless Ganzi people who have devoted themselves to biodiversity conservation.
(Our reporter Zhou Hongshuang and Li Xiaodong)