Environmental photographer Ge Yuxiu gave Przewalski's gazelle a Chinese name , "Chinese Diagonal Antelope". Photo by Ge Yuxiu.
Text/Nguyen Yu Lin
5 June is World Environment Day. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has determined that the Chinese theme of World Environment Day 2021 is: Harmonious Coexistence between Man and Nature, aiming to further awaken the awareness of biodiversity conservation in the whole society, firmly establish the concept of respecting nature, conforming to nature and protecting nature, and build a beautiful home where man and nature coexist in harmony.
How can man and nature coexist in harmony? Perhaps Qinghai, which is regarded as China's "ecological barrier", can give some answers.
In March this year, an adult snow leopard broke into the home of a farmer in Menyuan County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, to forage for food; in Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, walking on a highway, you can see flocks of Priscilla prodigale, a national first-class protected animal, leisurely foraging on the side of the road...
In Qinghai, the people can see that the ecological environment around them is gradually getting better.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="11" > ecological improvement, and flocks of rare animals can be seen on the side of the road</h1>
Chinese photographers photograph the rare wildlife of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Photo by Ge Yuxiu.
On the afternoon of June 3, in a large area of land on the north side of National Highway 305 in Hargai Town, Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, a long line of rapeseed seedlings had just emerged from the ground, and more than a dozen Przewalski's gazelles were leisurely foraging in the fields.
"Now the environment is better, there is more grass than before, there is no garbage on the side of the road, and these antelopes (i.e. Przewalski's gazelle) cannot be seen when grazing, but in recent years this antelope has gradually increased and can now be seen often." Tong Xuefu, a 66-year-old who is grazing cattle, told the China News Agency that his family lives nearby, and his family has 30 to 40 acres of land, mainly growing rapeseed, and these antelopes often come to the family vegetable field to eat vegetables.
Tong Xuefu said, "I can't drive away because there are vegetables to eat, and these antelopes will come back after driving them away."
The Przewalski's gazelle is the least abundant species of mammals endemic to China and one of the most endangered species among the ungulates in China and the world.
Historically, the number of Przewalski's gazelles has reached tens of thousands. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, due to habitat loss, livestock conflicts, poaching and other reasons, the population fell to less than 150. Today, Qinghai Lake is the only remaining habitat of przewalski's gazelle in the world.
The census shows that in 2007, the population of Przewalski's gazelle was about 300. With the help of many parties, the nearly extinct Przewalski's hartebeest species have gradually got rid of the endangered situation, and the population has recovered significantly, and the average annual population of Przewalski's hartebeest has stabilized at more than 2700.
He Yubang, director of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, introduced that a large area of reclaimed farmland in Hargai Town has become an important habitat for Przewalski's hartebeest, and the newly built farmland water conservancy project has specially reserved a passage for Przewalski's hartebeest and set up a drinking water pond for Przewalski's hartebeest.
He Yubang said that from the 2019 vegetation monitoring results, the average height of vegetation in the reserve is 12 cm, and the average height of reproductive branches is 22.2 cm. It shows that the ecological environment of vegetation growth in the reserve is in good condition, which is very conducive to the survival and development of wild animals and plants and local livestock in the reserve.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="81" > the number of naked carp in Qinghai Lake increased by 38 times</h1>
Photo by Ge Yuxiu.
In Gangcha County, not only is the population of Przewalski's gazelle recovering, but also the population of naked carp, a unique fish in Qinghai Lake, is also recovering through years of conservation measures such as fish breeding, breeding and stocking, and combating poaching.
Gangcha County is located on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake, and the migration of naked carp (also known as Huangyu) in Qinghai Lake is one of the three most exotic fish migration landscapes in the world. Every summer from June to August, millions of naked carp ovulate through the river flowing into Qinghai Lake, and the Hargai River, Shaliu River, Quanji River, Buha River and Gilmeng River in Gangcha County have become the main choice for naked carp to spawn in Qinghai Lake, thus forming a strange landscape of "half river clear water and half river fish".
A few days ago, in the Qinghai Lake naked carp migration channel built by the Quanji River in Quanji Township, Gangcha County, densely packed naked carp gathered in front of the dam and were struggling to migrate upwards, and groups of middle-headed gulls circled on the embankment waiting for an opportunity to prey.
Qinghai Lake naked carp is the core species of grass and tree ecology, if there is no naked carp, the algae in the lake will flood and grow, and the migratory birds in Qinghai Lake will also lose food.
Qi Hongfang, an extension researcher at the Qinghai Lake Naked Carp Rescue Center, told the China News Agency that the naked carp is a fish unique to Qinghai Lake, which grows slowly and is difficult to recover once destroyed. The protection of naked carp, that is, the protection of the food chain and ecosystem of Qinghai Lake, is of great significance to the biodiversity of Qinghai Lake.
A series of data show the effectiveness of ecological protection in Qinghai: the resource reserves of naked carp in Qinghai Lake have exceeded 100,000 tons, an increase of 38 times compared with the early stage of conservation, and the number of bird species has increased from 189 species in the 1990s to more than 220 species. The number of rare and endangered animals such as snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, And Przewalski's gazelle has increased year by year, and the number of snow leopards has risen to more than 1,800.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="82" > guarding green waters and green mountains to build a national ecological security barrier</h1>
Since the establishment of the first provincial nature reserve, Qinghai Lake Bird Island Nature Reserve, in 1975, through continuous efforts, Qinghai Province has established a total of 109 nature reserves of 8 categories at all levels and of various types, with a total area of 265,800 square kilometers, accounting for 36.8% of the total land area of the province. It basically covers five major ecological plates: Sanjiangyuan Area, Qinghai Lake Basin, Qilian Mountain Area, Qaidam Basin and Huangshui Basin.
Ren Yong, director of the Ecology Department of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Qinghai Province, told reporters that these natural protected areas have played an important role in protecting biodiversity, preserving natural heritage, improving the quality of the ecological environment and maintaining national ecological security.
"The establishment of nature reserves is the most effective measure to protect biodiversity," said Cui Shuhong, director of the Department of Natural Ecology and Conservation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China. To guard the boundary of natural ecological security is to guard the bottom line of national ecological security.
Cui Shuhong said: First, it is necessary to maintain the spatial distribution area of "landscapes, forests, fields, lakes and grasses" and ensure that the area is not reduced. The second is to keep the ecological service function and make the "green water and green mountains" look higher. The third is to maintain the carrying capacity of natural ecosystems, formulate and demarcate "three lines and one single", and crack down on all kinds of acts that damage the ecology and pollute the environment.
Qinghai is the ecological barrier of the country, the world's highest concentration of biodiversity, species diversity, genetic diversity and genetic diversity in high-altitude areas, and is the natural species resource bank of alpine organisms.
Ren Yong introduced that with the attention and support of the state and the wide participation of all sectors of society, the conservation of biodiversity in Qinghai Province has achieved certain results, especially since the 18th National Congress, the implementation of comprehensive and targeted reform measures has greatly promoted biodiversity conservation. In general, the wetland resource area in Qinghai Province has continued to increase, the number of species populations has increased significantly, and the ecosystem function has remained stable.
In September last year, China pointed out at the United Nations Biodiversity Summit that biodiversity is an important foundation for the survival and development of mankind. It is necessary to stand at the height of being responsible for human civilization, respect nature, conform to nature, protect nature, explore the road of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, promote the coordination and unity of economic development and ecological protection, and jointly build a prosperous, clean and beautiful world.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to biodiversity conservation, establishes a national committee for biodiversity conservation, formulates the Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation in China (2011-2030), delineates the red line of ecological protection, establishes a system of natural protected areas with national parks as the mainstay, implements major biodiversity conservation projects, and effectively protects the safety of wild animal and plant populations and their habitats.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="83" > "Protect rare animals, we are the beneficiaries"</h1>
Photo by Nguyen Yu Lin.
"Gangcha County is north of the Qilian Mountains, south of Qinghai Lake, the geographical location is very important, no matter how ecological environmental protection should be put first," Ji Shiwei, deputy county magistrate of Gangcha County, told the China News Agency State is a direct train reporter, but the protection of Przewalski's gazelle and Qinghai Lake naked carp is not an obstacle to economic development, but to promote the development of the local economy.
"In the past, there were no fish here, but now the naked carp has become a natural landscape of Gangcha, attracting a large number of tourists, driving the development of local tourism, and also driving the income of local residents and nomads," Ji Shiwei said.
"Protect the Przewalski's gazelle, protect the naked carp of Qinghai Lake, we are the beneficiaries", Ji Shiwei said, in the future we will also reflect the value of the antelope, the cute and ugly appearance of the Przewalski's gazelle has the temperament of becoming a popular animal, we are building a science museum, an experience hall, so that children can get close to nature, popularize ecological protection knowledge, and also drive local employment and tourism income.
In the next step, Qinghai Lake Scenic Area will continue to rely on existing ecological resources to build a Scientific Research Center for the Protection of Przewalski's Gazelle, build a high-level research platform for the protection of Przewalski's Gazelle conservation in China, do a good job in transforming scientific research results into science popularization, improve the functions of conservation scientific research, ecological science popularization, natural experience and outdoor environment education, and achieve coordinated development of ecological, social and economic benefits.
Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, pointed out that biodiversity builds the foundation of human survival and development, and is the bloodline and foundation of the community of life on earth. We must soberly realize that only when the whole society works together, respects the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and promotes the coordination and unity of economic and social and ecological protection, can we seek sustainable economic and social development.
Source: The country is through the train
Editor: Zhang Heyuan
Editor-in-charge: Wei Xi