Baoting makes most of its ecological assets, spearheads rainforest protection

A foreign guest learns to weave traditional Li ethnic embroidery during a cultural heritage tour in Baoting in June. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county, a core area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park blessed with clear waters, blue skies, tropical rainforests and natural hot springs, has made remarkable progress in rainforest protection, forest chief system advancement and ecotourism in recent years.

Guided by the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", and with an ecological priority embedded in its development framework, the county has evolved from an ecological guardian into a pioneer in green growth.

To safeguard its precious ecological heritage, nearly one-fifth of Baoting's land has been designated as a rainforest conservation area, supported by a comprehensive management network under the forest chief system.

Last year, forest chiefs at various levels conducted 2,549 patrols, managed pest control across over 1,640 hectares, and restored 105 hectares of vegetation. A 47-kilometer electronic fence has been installed, enabling the intelligent management of nearly 4,084 hectares of rainforest.

These efforts have curbed illegal hunting and forest fires while maintaining a stable forest coverage rate of around 77 percent, reinforcing the ecological barrier.

"Centering on the forest chief system, we have implemented concrete, targeted actions to steadily advance the development of the Tropical Rainforest National Park and the building of a national-level forest city," said Liang Zhenrong, deputy head of Baoting's forestry bureau.

"We are also deepening forest rights reform to strengthen the industry's foundation, exploring the sector's potential, optimizing its structure, and promoting the deep integration of forestry with tourism and other industries to efficiently convert ecological value into economic value," he said.

Baoting has shown equal commitment to preserving its "blue skies and white clouds". Data from January to September showed the county's ambient air quality remained generally excellent, with 98.9 percent of days rated as good or excellent. The average concentration of PM2.5 stood at 7.9 micrograms per cubic meter, and the average ozone concentration was 106 micrograms per cubic meter.

To further solidify its ecological foundation, Baoting has launched an integrated water treatment project, investing 840 million yuan ($117.9 million) in the ecological management of Chitian Reservoir, improving its water quality from Grade III to II. This initiative has been recognized by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment as a typical case for ecological protection compensation.