Grassland in Southwest China restored after years of ecological protection

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Flowers blossom at Sangke Grassland in Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Gansu, on July 16, 2016. [Photo/IC]

A folk song from the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) goes like this: "When the wind blows, cattle and sheep are revealed in the swaying grass". After 14 years of grassland preservation, such a scene can be seen again at some pastures in southwest China as the once-damaged ecosystem is greatly improved.

Gansu province boasts 17.87 million hectares of natural grassland. Due to global warming and habitat destruction caused by humans, 90 percent of the natural grassland degenerated by the end of 2000. As a result, mice increased and sand came.

The central government launched a project to return grazing land to grassland in the early 2000s in the western region, with the aim of protecting the ecological environment in a scientific way.

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Tents are scattered across the grassland at Luqu County, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Gansu, on July 22, 2013. [Photo/IC]

Local herdsmen are encouraged to plant grass so they can feed cattle and sheep rather than let them chew natural grass. The Finance Ministry also allocates fodder subsidies to herdsmen. Traditional animal husbandry has gradually been modernized.

Since 2003, 23 cities and counties in Gansu have joined the project. Over the years, the high and thick grassland was restored. In Minqin county, vegetation coverage doubled to 40 percent in seven years.

The good ecological environment draws wild animals, which is a new headache. "Herdsmen often come to complain that wild oxen lure cattle away or wild donkeys steal grass from livestock," said Wei Hong, an official of Chiwan village, Subei county.

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Deep greens offer vibrant color on the grassland in Luqu County, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Gansu, on July 22, 2013. [Photo/IC]

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Herdsmen races horses in Yugu autonomous county in South Gansu on July 3, 2015. [Photo/IC]

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Flowers blossom on Kangle Grassland in Yugu autonomous county in South Gansu on July 8, 2014. [Photo/IC]

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A horse ambles along Kangle Grassland in Yugu autonomous county in South Gansu on July 8, 2014. [Photo/IC]

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Sheep browse on Kangle Grassland in Yugu autonomous county in South Gansu on Sept 20, 2013. [Photo/IC]

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A view of Kangle Grassland in Yugu autonomous county in South Gansu on Sept 20, 2013. [Photo/IC]

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White snow dusts the mountain in the background, while the green forest and golden grassland create a stunning scene of natural beauty in Yugu autonomous county in South Gansu on Oct 5, 2016. [Photo/IC]

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The golden grassland at Shandan Horse Ranch and the faraway Qilian Mountain are covered with snow on Nov 28, 2014. [Photo/IC]

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Sheep wander on grassland in Sunan County in Gansu, April 11, 2015. [Photo/IC]