Volunteer herders guard source of Yangtze River

Volunteers patrol the source of the Yangtze River. (People's Daily/Xu Yuyao)

As head of the volunteer team patrolling the source of the Yangtze River in Maqu township, Amdo county, Nagqu city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Rinchen Gyatso regards protecting glaciers and the vast wilderness as his most important mission.

Maqu township spans 26,400 square kilometers. Each patrol takes Rinchen Gyatso eight to 14 hours and covers anywhere from 80 to more than 150 kilometers.

The volunteer team in Maqu township has more than 500 members, most of them ordinary local herders.

The township's vast terrain makes patrols challenging. In many areas, mobile phone signals are weak, making walkie-talkies an essential communication tool for team members. Once a problem is spotted, members immediately report it by radio to ensure every area is covered.

Rinchen Gyatso (L1) talks with fellow volunteers. (People's Daily/Xu Yuyao)

In 2023, while on patrol, Rinchen Gyatso received a message over his walkie-talkie saying that vehicles had entered the protected area.

Team members stayed in close contact by radio. They soon located the vehicles and eventually stopped several pickup trucks on a hillside. The vehicles belonged to a group of self-driving tourists. After talking with them, Rinchen Gyatso and his teammates escorted the visitors back to the township.

"Every year, many self-driving tourists come, but the impact of such activities on the ecosystem at the source of the Yangtze River is difficult to assess. We do our best to stop them and persuade them to turn back," Rinchen Gyatso said.

Over the years, more and more volunteers have joined the team to better protect the glaciers, strengthening the conservation network.

Joining the volunteer team is not an easy choice. In winter, members mainly use pickup trucks for patrols, as temperatures plunge to dozens of degrees Celsius below zero and biting winds and snow pose major challenges. In summer, motorcycles become the preferred mode of transport. Temperatures rise, but thawing permafrost turns many patrol routes into marshes, where lighter and more maneuverable motorcycles are less likely to get stuck.

Qiguo is also a member of the volunteer team. Every few days, he visits the areas he regularly patrols, collecting garbage from rivers and open fields before taking it to the county seat for sorting and disposal.

A bird's eye view of Maqu township, Amdo county, Nagqu city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (People's Daily/Xu Yuyao)

Today, Rinchen Gyatso and Qiguo encounter wildlife more frequently during their patrols, which brings them great joy.

"This is the most direct evidence that the ecosystem is improving!" they said.

Protecting wildlife has also become part of the volunteers' work. When they encounter injured animals such as Tibetan antelopes and Tibetan gazelles, Rinchen Gyatso and his teammates provide assistance whenever possible.

Tibetan antelopes. (People's Daily/Xu Yuyao)

Protecting the source of the Yangtze River has become a family legacy for Rinchen Gyatso. Three generations of his family have contributed to conservation efforts. His father is a member of the volunteer team, while his primary school-age son was named a "little guardian of the Yangtze River source" by the township and often takes part in environmental protection activities.