Two generations of forest rangers have looked after the forests in Xichuan County, central China's Henan Province for 40 years, nurturing and safeguarding the Taizi Mountain Forest Farm, a green shield serving as a vital green barrier against the destructive effects of soil erosion in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area.
One of the rangers, 61-year-old Chen Renfan, showed the reporter the history how they managed to turn a former waste land green. "I'm Chen Renfan, a retired forest ranger at the Taizi Mountain Forest Farm. I started working here in 1984 and dedicated more than 40 years to this role. Our primary responsibilities involve tree planting, mountain patrolling, and forest protection, ensuring the well-being of every plant on the mountains and reducing sediment runoff into the Danjiang Reservoir," Chen said.
In winter, as the water level of the reservoir drops, the rocky banks along the lake are exposed, he said, adding this period allows them to plant trees on the mudflats to effectively decrease soil erosion.
"The rocks are laid bare due to the lack of trees. The reservoir's water in wind and waves has washed away all the soil. As a hydrophilic tree species, poplar trees planted in the reservoir area can help stabilize the soil and improve the ecosystem," he explained.
In 1975, afforestation and greening efforts began on barren hills near Xianghua Town in the province's Xichuan County.
Over the years, more than 40 forest rangers at the Taizi Mountain Forest Farm have successfully established over 30,000 mu (2,000 hectares) of ecological forests, substantially increasing the forest coverage from under 30 percent to the current 92 percent, and effectively addressing the issue of desertification along the shores of the Danjiangkou Reservoir.
As the seedlings planted over four decades ago have now become towering trees, the primary duties of rangers have transitioned from tree planting to forest conservation and mountain patrols.
The Taizi Mountain Forest Farm located near the reservoir covers a total area of 22 square kilometers, with six work zones connected by rugged mountain roads. To facilitate mountain patrols, the forest rangers would reach the mountain base by boating along the reservoir bank, and traverse through the forest along beaten tracks, facing challenging climbs on steep slopes. Over the years, the rangers have trekked more than 20 kilometers on each patrol.
"There are no paths on the mountain, and there are a lot of rocks. Especially when patrolling the mountain after rain, it's slippery and muddy. It's very easy to trip and break bones. It happens quite often," said Chen.
Even in retirement, Chen Renfan sometimes joins the forest rangers during mountain patrols. He understands that tree planting is only the first step, continuous efforts must be made in forest protection to prevent illegal logging and ensure the healthy growth of trees.
When Chen Renfan retired in 2024, his son Chen Botao quit his job at the Xichuan County's fisheries bureau and became a forest ranger, shouldering the responsibility of protecting the clear water and verdant mountains.
After joining the forest farm, Chen Botao generated innovative ideas while acclimating to the tasks of forest conservation. He purchased the team's first drone and began to use it for patrolling the mountains. At the same time, he also had smart strategies for the future development of the forest farm.
"For example, I could drive the car to a nearby location and then use a drone to inspect the situation on the mountains. It could be accomplished within half an hour. But if we rely on traditional methods, it would take a whole day. In the future, I'm thinking that once the network is set up, we can install some fixed-point monitoring devices at appropriate locations. This way, not only can we improve efficiency, but also achieve more precise monitoring. For example, if there's a fire somewhere, we can detect it in the earliest time possible and handle it immediately," Chen Botao explained.
At present, the Taizi Mountain Forest Farm is planning to build a smart patrol platform, set up an interconnection network, install monitoring equipment and carry out drone patrols. Some young people born in the 1990s and 2000s have also chosen to join the forest farm.
Two-generation forest rangers turn barren mountain green in 40 years
