Villagers volunteer as 'riverkeepers'

Residents and other volunteers in a village nestled in the mountains of Shaanxi province are leading the charge in protecting the source of the Hanjiang River, a vital tributary of the Yangtze River.

The Hanjiang River Water Source National Wetland Park, in Ningqiang county, is not just a haven for biodiversity but also the starting point for water feeding into China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Recognizing its significance, people like Ma Lijun, in Hanshuiyuan village, dedicate their weekends to collecting trash and debris left behind by tourists.

Ma is a member of the county's photographic art association. In 2017, the association established a volunteer service team to regularly conduct garbage collection activities.

"We arrange to meet in the WeChat group before heading out," Ma said. "Over the past two years, we have clearly seen that there is less and less household waste, and people's awareness of environmental protection is getting stronger."

Protecting the river is a community effort for Hanshuiyuan residents.

"As a volunteer 'riverkeeper', I patrol the Hanjiang River every morning and afternoon," said villager Zhang Jirong.

Zhang's family has a long history of protecting the Hanjiang. His grandfather, Zhang Banggui, initiated the practice of volunteering to patrol the river and collect litter.

Located at the source of the river, Zhang Banggui's ancestral home stands just 10 meters from the purest waters of the Hanjiang. Starting in 2003, Zhang Banggui embarked on a daily 5-kilometer walk along the riverbanks, diligently gathering waste left by villagers and visitors. He persisted in that effort until his death in 2018.

Reflecting on his mission, Zhang Banggui once said: "Since I knew that my home was the first household at the source of the Hanjiang River, I have always felt a sense of responsibility to preserve the water source. Safeguarding the Hanjiang water is not just a choice, but also my inherent duty, considering its eventual journey to Beijing."

Inspired by Zhang's commitment, more villagers began participating in garbage collection efforts, ensuring the river's cleanliness. Hanshuiyuan has established over 10 public service posts, each overseen by dedicated personnel responsible for supervising the river cleaning operations. Retired urban residents from Ningqiang county and young students also contribute their time to safeguard the water source.

In addition to community initiatives, the county government has adopted a flexible water management strategy that integrates engineering projects for flood control and ecological governance to preserve the water quality.

Since the park's establishment, the county has invested over 600 million yuan ($82.5 million) in ecological protection and management projects. These efforts have managed 37 km of rivers, constructed 27 km of embankments, implemented riverbank greening on 40,000 square meters of land, planted water grass on 46.67 hectares and created over 1.33 hectares of artificial wetlands.

In recent years, the water quality of the water flowing down the Hanjiang has consistently maintained a Class II rating — the second-highest level in a five-tier system — with the overall quality of the aquatic environment ranking among the best in Shaanxi.