20 years of efforts bring ecological and economic benefits to Lijiang

Yulong Snow Mountain Nature Reserve is covered with lush natural forests. [Photo by He Hongyan/news.cn]

Lijiang of Yunnan province has reaped impressive ecological and economic results since the launch of a natural forest resource conservation project in 1997.

In the past two decades, the forest coverage in Lijiang has increased from 16.21 million mu (1.08 million hectares) in 1997 to 21.13 million mu in 2017. The forest coverage rate has risen to 68.48 percent from 40.3 percent. Upon completion of a public welfare forest project of 6.2 million mu, standing forest stock increased from 104.4 million cubic meters to 110.9 cubic meters.

"In the past 20 years, notable effects have been obtained from the forest management and protection in Lijiang as forest fires, illegal logging and hunting have been significantly reduced," said He Haibin, director of the Natural Forest Resource Protection Office in Lijiang Forestry Bureau.

He added that since the implementation of the project, Lijiang has banned commercial logging of natural forests and implemented effective measures to preserve the forest resources.

The public welfare forest construction project has stepped up forest rehabilitation efforts and the forest tending project has increased the quality of forest resources.

Natural scenery at the Spruce Meadow on the Yulong Snow Mountain. [Photo by He Hongyan/news.cn]

Official data shows that the number of migratory birds in Lugu Lake has increased from 10,000 to 30,000. Birds in the Lashihai Wetland Reserve have increased from approximately 25,000 in 57 categories to 120,000 in 94 categories. The number of black snub-nosed monkeys has grown from 160 monkeys to 350 monkeys.

Lijiang saw a net increase of 6.5 million cubic meters in standing forest stock, valuing 3.25 billion yuan ($506.2 million).

Improvement of the ecological environment has spurred rapid development of the tourism industry.

According to statistics, the comprehensive tourism revenue of Lijiang has rocketed from 947 million yuan in 1997 to 60.8 billion yuan in 2017. Total forestry output valued 9.4 billion yuan, up from 600 million yuan in 1997.

A 4.74-million-mu ecological industrial base dominated by walnuts, peppers, olives and green thorns has also been developed.

In addition, farmers in the city have lived better lives with their per capita income rising from 672 yuan in 1997 to 8,950 yuan in 2017. The average annual salary of workers in state-owned forestry enterprises rose from 5,648 yuan to 42,900 yuan.

He noted that Lijiang will further the protection of natural forest resources by building sound ecological safety barriers to safeguard Lijiang's wealth of lush mountains and clear waters.

Horses freely wander in the harmonious ecological landscape. [Photo by He Hongyan/news.cn]