(250522) -- HULUNBUIR, May 22, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Forest ranger Cao Haihong checks an Amur Cork-tree, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2025.
Cao Haihong, a 60-year-old forest ranger, began another day of patrol with his team at dawn. They spent two full days examining the habitat of Amur Cork-trees for wildfire risks while conducting a comprehensive survey of the entire forest farm.
Once a lumberjack felling trees in the mountains, Cao has now become a guardian of the dense forest. "In the past, logging caused a decline in biodiversity here," he recalls. "Now, with logging bans and growing awareness of ecological protection, species in the forest farm are thriving again. Wild animals like roe deer and lynxes are frequently spotted." Cao bridges tradition and innovation, mentoring apprentices to master drone-assisted forest monitoring.
The Baimaogou and Chaihekou forest farms, managed by Inner Mogonlia's Chaihe Forestry Bureau, form a crucial biodiversity hub on the southern slopes of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Currently, the area is home to nine national first-class protected animals, 17 national second-class protected animals and a variety of rare plants.
For decades, Chaihe's forest rangers have safeguarded this ecological legacy, ensuring the forest's vitality to move on to future generations. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui)
