Learning from conservation experience, Blue Pioneer delves deep into the public welfare protection area of Laohegou

In mid November, the "Blue Pioneer" marine public welfare talent training project, jointly initiated by Yintai Philanthropy, Paradise Ecological Protection Foundation, Parker Foundation, and others, entered the public welfare protected area of Laohegou, Sichuan. During the 3-day period, the students visited communities and protected areas on site, had in-depth exchanges with patrol officers and ecological guides, learned and discussed the advanced environmental protection concepts and work methods of the Paradise Ecological Protection Foundation, and benefited greatly.

Starting from the Three Basic Skills

The Laohegou Public Welfare Protection Site is located in Pingwu County, Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, with a protected area of 153 square kilometers.

Ma Jian, Vice President of Paradise Ecological Protection Foundation and Director of Laohegou Nature Reserve Center, and Blue Pioneer students shared the three daily tasks of Paradise Foundation: "Going up to the mountains, going to the countryside, and cleaning toilets". Go up the mountain "- carry out high-frequency patrols, familiarize oneself with every piece of land in the protected area, and promptly detect protection threats. The current patrol work has divided the protected area into kilometer grids, making it easier for teams to track and confirm whether their patrols effectively cover all areas; Going to the countryside "- making friends with every household in the surrounding community of the protected area, gradually seeking community support for protection, and inspiring community participation in protection; Cleaning the toilet "- polishing the team's attitude and quality requirements on the most easily overlooked small things. Through these three basic courses, Paradise Ecological Protection has gradually restored vitality and energy to nature in the protected area.

Ma Jian explains patrol equipment

From hunters to mountain rangers

The daily patrol work of the patrol officers not only changes the appearance of the Laohegou Nature Reserve, but also changes the personal life trajectory of the patrol officers. In their communication with the patrolmen, the blue pioneers learned that many patrolmen were once hunters who became environmental destroyers due to livelihood reasons. And now, as rangers of the Paradise Ecological Protection Foundation, they have become proud ecological environment protectors for themselves and their families. Watching the destroyed mountains and forests restore their original appearance, watching wild animals gradually return home, they have also transformed from hunters to mountain protectors and mountain speakers.

In this protected area study, led by two star ecological guides, Wei Xiaohua and Gan Yubo, the Blue Pioneer students also visited two ecological guide routes in the drizzle, learned about the experience of the two guides participating in ecological guide training and exams, and felt their pride in their hometown.

In fact, in the past year, 94 villagers have passed the training and assessment of the Paradise Ecological Protection Foundation and become certified ecological guides. Under the guidance of a guide, tourists can enter the protected area through specific routes in an orderly and secure manner by making reservations, and experience the beauty of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature in an eco-friendly way. The ecological guide project has brought over 50000 yuan in direct economic income to surrounding villagers.

 The ecological guide is giving a presentation

During the inspection of Laohegou Nature Reserve, the Blue Pioneer students not only had the opportunity to have face-to-face exchanges with senior "experts" engaged in ecological protection work on the front line, but also deeply learned how to gain recognition and support from surrounding villagers while protecting through on-site visits. Only in this way can protection work gain lasting vitality. In the future, students will continue to explore and learn more ecological protection experiences, and contribute their own strength to protecting the earth.