Father and son protect the Helan Mountains

The 54-year-old Li Dong walks more than 20 kilometers every day to reach the deep valleys of the Helan Mountains at Alshaa League in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. There, he conducts his patrol duties, which include forest fire prevention, monitoring forest diseases and protecting wildlife. He has dedicated himself to this work for 36 years.

The Helan Mountains are a vital natural ecological barrier in the western part of China. Their environment directly affects the ecological security of the Yellow River and other regions. As a deputy director within the Inner Mongolia Helan Mountains National Nature Reserve Administration, Li has witnessed the transformation of Helan Mountains from a commercial forest area to a national-level nature reserve.

In 1999, thousands of herdsmen left the mountains with their livestock. After 2000, a series of environmental improvement actions were taken such as banning selective logging and timber sales in natural forests. Significant success has been achieved in ecological management.

Specifically, the forest coverage has increased from 31.6 percent to 57.3 percent, and the forest area has expanded from 24,500 hectares to 38,800 hectares. The population of blue sheep has grown from around 16,000 to approximately 50,000. The snow leopard, which had been extinct in Helan Mountains for over half a century, has reappeared in the region.

Li Dong's son, Li Guomin, who is currently 28 years old, has been working as a forest ranger in the Helan Mountains for five years now. He said he hopes to inherit the silent dedication and selfless contribution demonstrated by his grandfather and father, and protect the mountains.

Yang Zishuo contributed to this story.