Dulongjiang: Li Yuhua, a 38-year-old woman from the Dulong ethnic group, resides near the emerald Dulong River in China's remote southwest. The Gaoligong Mountains, cloaked in thick forests, are home to rare flora and fauna in this region. In her childhood, Li witnessed the villagers practicing slash-and-burn agriculture, which harmed the forests and failed to provide sufficient food, forcing them to forage for wild greens and fish for sustenance.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the implementation of China's policy of returning farmland to forests has transformed local agriculture and lifestyles, leading to greener mountains. In 2016, the local government created forest ranger positions, and Li took on the role to earn additional income while her husband worked away. As one of the few female rangers, she built her physical strength and learned essential skills to patrol and protect the 1,600 square kilometers of rugged forests.

The Gaoligong Mountains are the core of the "Three Parallel Rivers" World Heritage site with its unique ecosystems. Niu Yang of the Kunming Institute of Botany highlighted the region's extraordinary biodiversity, sheltering a significant percentage of China's plant and vertebrate species. The area serves as a habitat for rare and endangered wildlife and a crucial corridor for migratory birds.

Researchers have ventured into the mountains to study and collect plant germplasm resources, discovering new species and recording others for the first time in China. Zhang Ying'an, director of the Nujiang Management Bureau, emphasized their commitment to scientific research and collaboration with institutions to protect this ecological treasure.

Li Yingchun, a Dulong ethnic researcher, returned home to work at the Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, helping establish a research station. Despite challenging conditions, the researchers conduct comprehensive studies to understand the ecosystem's structure and response to climate change. Li Rong, executive director of the research station, highlighted the region's significance in biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring.

Looking forward, there is hope for global scientific collaboration to explore major ecological questions, such as ecosystem structure and climate events, to benefit the world through this "natural laboratory."