Inner Mongolian reserve sees new life after logging and fire

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By CGTN's Yang Wentao and Zhu Qinliang

The Genhe River Reserve, in northeastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is mostly forest. But a fire in May 2003 that burned about one eighth of the area and locals' use of methods of logging from the 1950s and 1960s, have resulted in dwindling forest resources.

With that, weed growth has increased and loss of the land's water conservation function has caused soil erosion.

People delivered timbers in 1960s. /CGTN Photo

Recognizing the seriousness and urgency of the problem, the local government introduced measures to manage the cutting of trees. And these ecological protection and restoration efforts have had notable results in the past decade, with forest reserves increasing by 28,449 cubic meters, or 92 percent, while the volume of dry wood increased by 1.55 million cubic meters, a hike of 155.7 percent.

Interzonal vehicle for workers in 1990s. /CGTN Photo

Now, the reserve covers an area of 1,260 square kilometers, where natural ecosystems have been restored. Species of wild animals are abundant. There are 404 species of wild plants, and 268 species of animals.

On the migratory path from East Asia to Australia, it sees some 20 million birds migrate through here every year, many also stopping here to breed.

Genhe Forest Reserve recovered from ecocide.

Local herdsmen have also started to tap potential reindeer tourism with the support of the government: some 1,200 reindeer are already being raised by 14 households in Genhe City of Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

1273km