Current location:sport >>
Decades of Safeguarding Mountains, Forests
sport96838People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Decades of Safeguarding Mountains, Forests
ByZhang Jiamin June 2, 2023
For the past three decades, two generations of Yang Jiashou's family have lived far from urban areas. Yang, his son, Yang Zilu, and their relatives have helped protect the forests on the mountains in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Yang Jiashou and Yang Zilu have shouldered the responsibilities of reporting forest fires and preventing deforestation. With their family members, they remain determined to safeguard the mountains and forests in Yunnan.
Ganxiantang Watchtower was built in 1993, on a mountain in the border area of western Chengjiang and Jinning District of Kunming, in Yunnan Province. Yang Jiashou and Yang Zilu have lived in the watchtower. The watchtower is an important observation site for safeguarding tremendous areas of forests in the west of Chengjiang. While standing on the top of the watchtower, one can notice, timely, if there is a fire anywhere on 2,100 mu (140 hectares) of the forest region.
'Green Treasure'
During the early years after Ganxian tang Watchtower was built, workers lived in a mere 40-square-meter space, on the ground floor. There was no electricity or running water. The nearest residential community was more than 10 kilometers away. The road to the top of the mountain was difficult to walk. It was almost impossible to transport supplies to the watchtower during bad weather. Due in part to the extremely hard living conditions, it was not easy to find people willing to work in the watchtower. Yang Jiashou was an exception.
During the 1990s, Yang Jiashou carried a sickle and a bag, and he moved into Ganxiantang Watchtower with his wife. At that time, mostly seedlings were growing near the watchtower. When the couple patrolled the area around the watchtower, they also planted some trees on wasteland and/or on the hills. They also helped with pest control, to protect the trees. Yang Jiashou worked deep in the mountain for 15 years. Countless seedlings grew up. The mountain, covered by forest, has become a "green treasure" cherished by Yang Jiashou — from the bottom of his heart.
If the couple needed supplies (goods for daily use), they would walk to their house, located 10-plus kilometers away, and they would carry the supplies back to the watchtower. Before the watchtower had electricity, they burned rosin for light during the evening. Before they had running water, they fetched water from the foot of the mountain, three kilometers from the watchtower. Over the years, Yang Jiashou has fallen many times while patrolling the forests. As he grew older, he realized it was time for his son to help protect the mountains and forests.
The Task
During the spring of 2009, Yang Jiashou asked Yang Zilu to accept a special task: Work at Ganxiantang, and help safeguard the mountains and forests. Yang Zilu was familiar with life on the mountain, and so he accepted the task, without hesitation. Yang Zilu's wife, Lu Yunlian, supported her husband's decision to relocate to Ganxiantang Watchtower. "If my husband decides to work in the mountain, I will accompany him. I can cook while he patrols the mountain, and I will wait for him to return to this watchtower. We can eat together, so we won't feel lonely," Lu says.
Yang Zilu begins patrolling the mountain at 10 a.m., after he finishes breakfast. After 5 p.m., he normally returns to the watchtower. While he works, Lu stays at the watchtower and monitors for fires. They also promote fire safety and forest protection among the local residents.
Yang Zilu's daughter, Yang Huiming, has witnessed her parents' hard work since she was a primary school student. When her father was patrolling the mountain, her mother stayed home to look after her. Yang Huiming learned to take care of herself, so her mother could devote some time to helping Yang Zilu with his work. Yang Huiming was able to live independently when she was in middle school. Thanks to their daughter's understanding, Yang Zilu and Lu were able to better concentrate on their forest-protection work.
"I received the task of working in the watchtower from my father. My wife fully understands me and supports me, so I can continue this task," Yang Zilu says. Adds Lu: "We do not earn a high income from this job. But I believe our life will be better."
Nowadays, Yang Zilu and Lu use their spare time to breed bees, grow carrots, potatoes, corn and other crops, and raise livestock and poultry. All of those activities have helped them increase their income.
Yang Huiming has graduated from college. She sometimes visits her parents, and helps them with their work.
As he stands on the top of the watchtower and looks through a telescope at the vigorously growing pine trees, which were planted by his parents, Yang Zilu smiles happily. He has adhered to his parents' aspiration of working at Ganxiantang to help safeguard the forests, which will benefit future generations. Given the selfless dedication and hard work of many people, like the Yangs, the forests in Chengjiang are becoming more and more beautiful. In May last year, Yang Zilu's family was named a National Most Beautiful Family.
Photos Supplied by Yunnan Women's Federation
(Source: The Department of Family and Children's Affairs of the All-China Women's Federation/Women of China English Monthly May 2023 issue)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Global Gateway news portal”。http://clippertonisland.bankruptcyintn.com/article-72d599849.html
Related articles
Fresh heartache for cancer
sportCancer-stricken King Charles will be feeling fresh heartache after a former IRA commander confessed ...
【sport】
Read moreAfter Berlin, Zelensky signs French security pact amid Navalny shock
sportBy Alexander Ratz, Yuliia Dysa and Michel RoseFrance's President Emmanuel Macron (R) shakes hands wi ...
【sport】
Read moreApple users are still discovering hidden new features inside iPhone's iOS17
sportApple's latest operating system, iOS 17, comes with a lot of little-promoted, but life-saving featur ...
【sport】
Read more
Popular articles
- Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
- Best credit cards rated: Top for cashback, rewards and clearing debt
- Move over Mykonos! Paros is far more laid
- Brutalist
- Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
- Xi Jinping arrives in Hong Kong for July 1 celebrations, makes first visit to city since 2017
Latest articles
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
Why Temple Bar backs cheap shares like M&S, BP and Royal Mail: INVESTING SHOW
Was the Budget too little, too late
Tale of the state pension underpaid for 20 YEARS: This is Money podcast
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Exquisite suites and unrivalled experiences
LINKS
- Homicide investigation launched after body found in Hastings
- Swedish alarm after defence chiefs' war warning
- Swedish alarm after defence chiefs' war warning
- Rebel group in Indonesia's Papua to release kidnapped New Zealand pilot
- Couple waits for categorisation of flood
- 'Unusually cool March': Cold but clear weather for Easter weekend
- Van Thinh Phat chairwoman sentenced to death in Vietnam’s biggest fraud trial — Radio Free Asia
- NASA's historic Mars helicopter Ingenuity grounded for good after 72 flights
- North Korea's Kim Jong Un turns 40 ... maybe
- Government mulls expanding inquiry into Covid