Volunteers spearhead plateau conservation

Jamwen Phuntsok has many roles — auxiliary police officer, association head, ecological ranger and volunteer organizer. He still answers emergency calls as a police assistant, even late at night when bears disturb residents or villagers need help.

But whenever he has spare time, he returns to the riverbanks. He does not describe this as a sacrifice.

"I grew up on the grassland. When I see the grassland and livestock, my heart feels settled," he said. "As an ecological ranger, protecting my home is my duty."

Over the years, he has seen the plateau transform. Grasslands have become cleaner, wildlife has become more visible, and more residents now pick up waste instead of throwing it away. Animals he rarely saw as a child now sometimes appear along patrol routes.

To Jamwen Phuntsok, protecting the Yangtze River does not always begin with grand words. Sometimes it begins with bending down, picking up a discarded bottle and placing it in a bag.

"What we do may look small," he said. "But it can spread like dandelion seeds, planting ecological awareness in more places."