Forest Rangers: Duties passed down on generations

World
Europe

BY CGTN's reporter Hu Ying

Imagine what your life would be if you worked on an isolated watchtower at the top of a mountain for up to 11 years. Liu Jun and his wife Qi Shuyan have been working at the Saihanba National Forest Park in central China's Hebei Province as forest rangers just for that lengthy period of time.

Their parents also worked in the forest, and the young couple has followed their footsteps growing up. Liu started off as a ranger, whereas Qi worked at a nursery garden before making the switch to the lookout position. There are nine watchtowers spread over the mountain range in Saihanba, are run by several ranger teams, all married couples.

9 watchtowers in the Saihanba National Forest Park in central China's Hebei Province. /CGTN Photo

Liu and his wife have experienced loneliness and guilt, as Liu said himself, mainly because they've been unable to take care of their son, Liu Zhigang, the couple's only child. However, a shift came three years ago when Zhigang became a forest firefighter in the national park.

Liu Zhigang, the son of Liu Jun and Qi Shuyan. /CGTN Photo

The young fireman got married months ago, and his wife has brought new energy to the family. Liu Ran not only brought happiness to the family but offered strong support for her husband when he climbs his way up to the watchtower.

Liu Ran, Liu Zhigang's supportive wife. /CGTN Photo

For the married, the goodbye will be painful. Working in the forest for over a decade, they've seen trees sprout and grow, becoming a part of the lush green surrounding they've worked in for so long. And despite the apartment they own back in town, the very growth of nature and greenery around them gives them a sense of belonging, and a family feeling at the top of the watchtower.

"If my son and daughter-in-law can work as forest rangers here, we can still stay here. We don't want to leave this forest," say Liu and Qi.

Source: Saihanba National Forest Park

With devoted rangers like Liu and Qi, a staggering 185 thousand acres of land in Saihanba have come under their watchful eyes - and not a single major fire has ever occurred over the past 55 years.

253km