High up in the remote glaciers of Mount Geladaindong, Yu Wenhao vividly remembers the challenges he faced building a monitoring station at the headwaters of the Yangtze River. Last October, Yu and his 20-member team embarked on a grueling 120-kilometer journey through southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, taking two days to reach their destination without any roads.
“The journey was only about 120 kilometers, but it took us two days. There were no roads!” Yu recalled. “With approval from local authorities, we braved the freezing cold, following experienced local guides to minimize our impact on the fragile plateau ecosystem.”
Yu is the project manager of an intelligent monitoring platform in the Tangbei area of Sanjiangyuan National Park. The monitoring station his team established is one of 14 spread across this vast region, including the Silingtso and Changtang national nature reserves. These stations are part of a high-tech network integrating satellites, drones, and ground sensors for real-time ecological tracking.
Established in 2021, the 190,700-square-kilometer Sanjiangyuan National Park sits on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau at an average elevation of over 4,700 meters. Known as a crucial ecological security barrier in China, the park is a representative of the alpine ecosystem and serves as a biological germplasm bank.
“Nowadays, we continuously upgrade the platform with artificial intelligence algorithms to improve wildlife identification accuracy,” Yu said. Beyond technology, he emphasized the growing conservation awareness among local youth. Young herders have volunteered to assist in the construction of these monitoring stations, showcasing a shared commitment to preserving their homeland.
Over 6,000 former park residents now serve as ecological rangers, transitioning from resource users to protectors. Namdrol, a 48-year-old herder from Maqu Township in Nagqu, joined an environmental protection team in 2016. He and his team organize river cleanups, rescue trapped wildlife, and prevent environmentally harmful activities.
“We conduct five to six inspection tours every month, covering over 40 kilometers each time,” Namdrol said. “Given the extreme fragility of this ecosystem, where any damage could be irreversible, strengthening ecological protection is absolutely critical.”
Official statistics show that Xizang has established 47 nature reserves, covering 412,200 square kilometers. These efforts have made Xizang one of the regions with the healthiest ecosystems in the world.
The region has also implemented an eco-compensation system to increase the income of farmers and herders and strengthen their conservation awareness. From 2016 to 2024, an average of 516,000 eco-environmental protection jobs were created annually, providing an annual per capita income of 3,500 yuan (about $490).
“Thanks to advanced technology, local residents’ engagement, and strong support from the country, wildlife populations in Tangbei are steadily rising,” said Wang Mingqing, Party secretary of the forestry and grassland bureau of Nagqu City.
The fusion of traditional knowledge and modern technology is empowering the youth of Xizang to safeguard their environment, ensuring that the fragile plateau ecosystem is preserved for generations to come.
