This year marks the 60th anniversary of China's first nature reserve, but now there's a new model of nature conservation emerging. A group of conservationists from non-government organisations took over the management rights of a forest called Laohegou, or Old Creek, in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province five years ago. Good news for the plants and wildlife there, but also for the forest rangers.
Jiang Hai and Chen Xianghui are experienced forest rangers. But it wasn’t always this way.
"I came here in May of 1991. This place used to be a tree farm," Chen said.
"Trees were being felled. Of course it was bad for the plants and wildlife, but we didn’t think of it that way. We were responding to the country’s call to develop the economy," Jiang said.
It was a job to be proud of. Then it all changed after the massive flooding of the Yangtze in 1998. De-forestation was partly blamed for the extent of the destruction. The logging site in LHG, like many others, was shut down, and placed under a nationwide plan called the Natural Forest Protection Project.
"That’s when we turned from tree logger to forest ranger," Jiang said.
In was a sharp turn, in more ways than one. Profits stopped, and with it, decent wages.
"It became difficult to even raise a family," Jiang said.
And at work – they were totally at a loss. Conservationist Wang Jimei knows well their frustrations.
"What they knew was how to measure the tree girth, how to make them fall better, faster, how not to damage the trunk while transporting, in order to make more profit for the state. Then suddenly, they were told to protect the forest," Wang said.
WJM’s organization, the US NGO The Nature Conservancy stepped into Laohegou 5 years ago.
Apart from restoring the ecosystem here, they also wanted to help these ex-loggers.
"I think it was a significant step that the government initiated the Natural Forest Protection Project. But there were too many loggers. They’re the vulnerable ones swept up in the big reforms," Wang said.
It turned out all these ex-loggers needed was a little training. Now, they are equipped with all the knowledge and modern ideas in nature conservation. And their new purpose - watching the wildlife and understanding their habits.
Here at Old Creek, there are dozens of logger-turned-rangers patrolling the one hundred ten square kilometer forest, taking samples and scouting for any trace of wildlife. On a busy day, they can easily spend 12 hours walking in the forest.
"You asked me what’s fun about this job. Let me tell you, it’s backbreaking. But I can tell you with pride, We've seen the number of fish, wildlife, and plant species grow back. Looking at this forest now, encountering the animals, I feel so proud," Wang said.
That their life and career have once again found meaning.
