In the remote reaches of China's northwestern frontier, a group of young people have been protecting one of the country's rarest mammals, the Sino-Mongolian beaver, whose population has dwindled to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss.
Found only along the Ulungur River in the Altay region in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Sino-Mongolian beaver is considered "living fossils" and "hydraulic engineers" of the animal kingdom for its dam-building prowess that supports biodiversity.
In 2018, Chu Wenwen, a forestry graduate from Beijing Forestry University, returned to her hometown of Altay and founded the Xinjiang Altay Nature Conservation Association. Through this platform, she launched the "Beaver Family" initiative, a public welfare community committed to rescuing Sino-Mongolian beavers and restoring their fragile habitats.
"When we established the association in 2018, beaver protection was set as our main priority. Beavers are also recognized in many special ways, such as one of the national first-class protected wild animals and engineers of the animal kingdom. They are capable of improving the overall quality of their surroundings by bettering the environment they live in. They build dams, allowing the algae to grow, which feeds more fish and waterbirds, thus connecting the ecological network," said Chu.
The group has since attracted dozens of young volunteers, local farmers, herdsmen, and support from government agencies and private foundations. Their work includes habitat restoration, public education, and biodiversity monitoring.
For Chu, the motivation runs deeper than science.
"The reason people choose to help wildlife is because living in this world as humans comes with many rules and limitations. But such rules don't exist for wildlife. They possess the purest, most direct freedom. So when we help these wild animals and enable them to return to nature, it's as if they carry our longing for freedom as they return to the wild, continuing to live with the kind of freedom we desire," said Chu.
Chu says the project's success lies in its collective spirit and the ability of young people to mobilize through digital platforms.
"We have gained a lot through the Internet. Another reason is that China has already invested massive manpower in nature conservation. We stand on the shoulders of our predecessors and rely on their experience. On this basis, we always strive to make things fun to attract more young people. What's important is that we build a strong foundation," said Chu.
As the Beaver Family grows, Chu hopes that the project can facilitate the survival of generations of wildlife.
"We aspire to build a bridge between human society and nature. Hopefully, our efforts can facilitate the survival of generations of wildlife," said Chu.
China's "Beaver Family" fights to save endangered species in Xinjiang
NPC Deputies from east China's Jiangsu Province vowed to make greater contributions to the overall development of the nation after Chinese President Xi Jinping joined them in group deliberations on Thursday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, took part in the deliberation with his fellow deputies from Jiangsu during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature.
During the discussions, deputies from various sectors shared their experiences and spoke on a wide range of topics, including agriculture, technological and industrial innovation, education and talent training, and rural governance.
"I felt extremely excited today to be able to meet face-to-face with the General Secretary and report to him on Huai'an's economic and social development over the past two years. In recent years, we have vigorously cultivated the development of the crayfish industry in line with the requirements for developing local specialty products. In Xuyi County, one-sixth of the population is engaged in this profession. When I reported to the General Secretary a moment ago, I shared some good news with him. The 'Xuyi No. 1' crayfish has achieved growth of more than 18 percent in both yield per mu (about 0.067 hectare) and individual weight. Crayfish farming has provided more employment opportunities for our labor force and promoted income growth for residents," said Shi Zhijun, secretary of the CPC Huai'an Municipal Committee.
"I reported to the General Secretary on the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation. The General Secretary attached great care for Soochow University. For our emerging industries and future industries, one important focus is developing commercial aerospace. We are now working together with industry partners to address this issue, hoping that Soochow University will achieve coordinated development with Suzhou's social economy in the future, and make greater contributions particularly to developing new quality productive forces," said Zhang Xiaohong, Party Secretary of Soochow University.
"I reported to the General Secretary on the achievements our team has made in breeding wheat resistant to Fusarium head blight. We have successively developed highly resistant varieties including Yangmai 33 and Yangmai 53, covering two directions of high-quality wheat development. Chinese bowls must be filled with Chinese grain. We must continue our efforts to ensure stable growth of national grain production and guarantee food security," said Gao Derong, a researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Lixiahe Region under the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
"Today, I feel extremely honored and excited to report to the General Secretary on the changes and development of our Desheng Village over the years. The General Secretary inquired about Party organization building, industrial development, social development, and environmental governance. For rural areas, we must first develop industries so that people can benefit substantially from this process. Meanwhile, the building of civilized rural customs must be advanced in parallel," said Yang Hengjun, head of Desheng's village committee.
In the deliberation, Xi has called on economic powerhouses like Jiangsu to redouble efforts to gain experience in analyzing new situations and solving new problems.
Deputies say they will implement the General Secretary's instructions and strive to make new achievements. "Today, the General Secretary, on the one hand, spoke positively of Jiangsu's contributions as an economic powerhouse, shouldering heavy responsibilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. On the other hand, he put forward new requirements for Jiangsu in terms of developing new quality productive forces in line with local conditions to enhance economic resilience, and in continuously strengthening common prosperity for the people. As an NPC deputy, I will earnestly study and implement the General Secretary's important instructions upon my return, so that Huai'an's modernization process can advance on a more solid foundation," Shi said.
"Universities, especially research universities, as national strategic scientific and technological forces, must do well in basic research and application. As an important base for talent cultivation, we must establish mechanisms for integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, and cultivate top innovative talents. We will implement the General Secretary's instructions through these efforts," Zhang said.
NPC deputies from Jiangsu vow to make greater contributions in national development
