———“Ecological Ledger” Green Stories

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Saihanba National Nature Reserve.

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Saihanba National Nature Reserve.

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Image ②

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Image ③

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Data sources: Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, etc.

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June 5 is World Environment Day. This year, China’s theme for the day is “Comprehensive Green Transformation, Building a Beautiful China Together.” Across the vast landscape, comprehensive green transformation is advancing deeply and taking effect, with the whole nation participating and working together to build a beautiful China. This special report looks at how various regions, based on the present and with an eye on the long term, are accelerating comprehensive green transformation, pooling their efforts through small actions to build a beautiful China.

— Editor

Niwan Village, Longhu Mountain Scenic Area, Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province

An “Mountain Forest Ledger”: Developing the Understory Economy

In the Longhu Mountain Scenic Area of Yingtan, Jiangxi, the Luxi River winds its way. At the village committee meeting room in Niwan Village, Shangqing Town, the village’s two committees were holding a meeting with lively discussions. Kong Songhua, deputy secretary of the village party branch and a forest ranger, opened his notebook and jotted down the discussion points: strengthen protection of new bamboo shoots; with the current rainy season, monitor the growth of understory medicinal herbs…

This “mountain forest ledger” has been kept by Niwan Village for 15 notebooks (see Image ①), documenting the transformation since 1995.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the village had over 20,000 mu of mountain forests. “Back then, everyone was cutting trees to sell. A family could easily earn over a hundred yuan a day,” said Kong Songhua. The village set up a timber processing plant. Gradually, the trees dwindled, the forests thinned, and looking at the bare mountain slopes, everyone woke up as if from a dream.

Opening a red notebook, page twelve records an entry from February 27, 1997—the first village meeting after the Lunar New Year, with agenda item 8 being “Strengthening the management of closing hillsides for afforestation.”

In 2000, the state fully launched the Natural Forest Protection Project, and Niwan Village closed all its mountains for afforestation. The notebook records that at an expanded meeting, Kong Fanyin, former secretary of the village party branch, told the villagers present, “We won’t sell trees anymore. We need to find a new path.”

On

Saihanba National Nature Reserve

Saihanba National Nature Reserve, located in Hebei Province, China, was once a barren, degraded landscape due to deforestation and overgrazing in the early 20th century. Beginning in the 1960s, a massive state-led afforestation project transformed it into the world’s largest man-made forest, covering over 92,000 hectares. Today, it serves as a vital ecological barrier for northern China and a symbol of successful environmental restoration.

Longhu Mountain Scenic Area

Longhu Mountain Scenic Area, located in Jiangxi Province, China, is a renowned Taoist sacred site and the birthplace of the Taoist Way of the Celestial Masters. Its name, meaning “Dragon and Tiger Mountain,” comes from the legend that the mountain’s peaks resemble a dragon and a tiger guarding the area. The site features stunning natural landscapes, ancient temples, and cliffside tombs from the Spring and Autumn period, blending spiritual heritage with breathtaking scenery.

Niwan Village

Niwan Village, located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, is a historic settlement known for its well-preserved ancient architecture and rich cultural heritage, dating back over 600 years to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The village features traditional courtyards, stone-paved streets, and intricate wood carvings, reflecting the lifestyle of the Zhuang and Han ethnic groups. Today, it serves as a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a glimpse into rural Chinese history and folk traditions.

Luxi River

The Luxi River, located in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is a scenic waterway known for its karst landscapes and clear waters. Historically, it has served as a vital transportation route for local communities and is closely tied to the cultural heritage of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups. Today, it is a popular destination for bamboo rafting and exploring the surrounding natural beauty and caves.

Shangqing Town

Shangqing Town, located in Jiangxi Province, China, is a historic settlement closely associated with the origins of Taoism. It is home to the Shangqing Palace, a major Taoist temple complex built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), which served as a key center for Taoist study and ritual. The town’s serene mountain setting and ancient architecture reflect its enduring role as a spiritual and cultural hub for Taoist practitioners.