Guangming Daily recently unveiled the 2014 Chinese Heroes for Ecological Protection event, aiming to promote those who have contributed greatly to forest protection and raising the public’s awareness of the environment.

"We want to find those who have been protecting our green dream via this activity and demonstrate their inner worlds to the society," said He Dongping, editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily at the launching ceremony.

The Beijing-based newspaper has started a series of influential charity events in recent years, such as looking for the most beautiful guides and the most beautiful teachers in rural areas.

The newspaper is sending special coverage teams all over the country to look for and report on those are dedicated to ecological protection until January. Governmental departments such as forestry bureaus are recommending excellent workers in the ecological protection fields.

People can recommend themselves or others via the event's official website, micro blog, WeChat and e-mail. At the end of January, the committee will identify the name list of the top 10 Chinese Heroes for Ecological Protection.

"It's our responsibility to protect the environment. I hope all of us can care for these heroes from the grassroots and publicize their touching stories," said the event’s charity ambassador, Zhang Jinlai, at the ceremony. He is better known as Liuxiaolingtong, a household name in China for playing the role of the Monkey King in the TV series Journey to the West in 1986.