Protecting the Pure Land: Primary school pupils in Tibet learning about ecological preservation

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The Chinese president is a major advocate of environmental protection, something he stressed upon in Hubei. Tibet is known for its land of pure earth, and the autonomous region in southwest China has invested heavily in protecting it over the past few years and now, primary school pupils are even getting in on the act. Zheng Chunying has the story.

It's the most important class of the week for ten-year-old Lobsang Dawa.

As one of the "little protectors" in Amdo County, Lobsang treasures every moment learning about the environment and he loves to share his new-found knowledge with his family.

At 4,500 meters above sea level, Amdo is on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and is located in an ecological preservation area close to the source of the Yangtze River.

Hoping to protect his home town's beautiful environment for many years to come, youngsters like Lobsang are keen to learn as much as they can now.

TEACHER MANCHU VILAGE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN AMDO COUNTY "There are over 20 patrollers. The youngest patroller is seven years old, the oldest one is ten. We hold an environmental protection tutorial once a week to teach them how to protect our hometown."

And maintaining a healthy environment is a top priority for residents of all ages in the area.

Over the past two years, more than 160 volunteers have been doing what they can, such as collecting litter and planting trees.

LEADER MANQU VILLAGE AMDO COUNTY "In the past, people had a lack of awareness in protecting the environment, but these years things are getting much better. There's less and less garbage on the street and in the water."

Amdo county is an example of Tibet's unwavering commitment to environmental protection. During the 12th Five-Year Plan, the central government allocated more than 10 billion yuan in subsidies for ecological protection in the region. And 10 Tibetan counties are now said to be role-models in this area.

Needless to say, much more will be done to make picturesque Tibet a better place to live. ZHENG CHUNYING, CGTN.