Inner Mongolia seeks to build ecological shelter

Win-win for environmental protection and breeding

On May 27, Sun Yanhua, director of the administrative office of the diversified economy of the forestry bureau, went to the Yizhigou forest ranger house to visit forestry employees. These forestry employees, who work and live here, are now addressed as forest rangers rather than lumberjacks.

Under the support of the forestry bureau, each of them has been engaged in the breeding of cattle and horses, besides guarding and protecting the forest, to create great economic benefits based on the green resources here.

"The present forest ranger house is equivalent to the old forest farm. Their difference is not simply a change of names, but of functions. The former working area has turned into an ecological functional area, which signifies the implementation of the national natural forest protection projects policy and the improvement of the forestry workers’ awareness of environmental protection. In the last two years, the Chuoer forestry bureau has come up with a concept of attaching equal importance to protection and breeding, utilized forest resources to the fullest degree, discovered new industries from environmental protection, and gained strong returns. This has been accomplished by embracing major efforts in natural forest protection projects, management and protection of forest resources, and protection of woodland resources and wild fauna and flora," remarked Sun Yanhua.

Horses pen in the forest. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The forestry farm’s lumberjacks tried to breed and farm sheep in the early 1990s, which caused grave damage to the hillside’s vegetation. Fortunately, the employees, with the help of the forestry bureau, have finally found an environmentally friendly project, horse breeding, which has turned out to be very satisfying in terms of economic benefits in recent years.

"In the past, the employees had little information regarding breeding skills and the market. However, with the progress of industrial transformation and the enhancement of environmental protection, their demand for standardized breeding became urgent. Therefore, the forestry bureau specially established a horse breeding society that provides interest-free loans and horse breeding technique guidance to employees.

It is important that the overall layout of the farming areas be conducted and the horse quantity be well controlled so that the industry will develop in a healthy and orderly way," added Sun Yanhua, who also serves as vice-president of the horse breeding society.

The development of ancillary forest industries has become one of the priorities of environmental protection work of the forestry bureau as forest logging shrinks.