Ecological restoration at the 8,738-hectare Yani National Wetland Park in Nyingchi, Xizang autonomous region, has revived wildlife populations while creating new income sources for nearby villages.
The wetland is patrolled by 75 local rangers who handle waste removal, wildlife rescue, vegetation monitoring, and enforcement against illegal hunting and sand extraction.
Ranger Phuntsok Tsering recalled that one area of the wetland contained only three trees a decade ago before community tree-planting efforts transformed the landscape, according to an article by China Daily.
“We clean up trash, rescue wildlife, check vegetation, and watch for illegal hunting and sand digging,” Tsering said.
The park now supports 534 species of higher plants and 234 species of wild animals, according to the Department of Ecology and Environment of Xizang.
Recent surveys documented 100 bird species in and around the park, representing an increase of 43 species over earlier surveys, with regular sightings of bar-headed geese and black-necked cranes.
The environmental recovery transformed economic conditions in nearby Liding village, where residents historically relied on agriculture and livestock raising with annual per-capita incomes below 10,000 yuan ($1,489).
Tsering Tashi, a member of the village-stationed work team, noted that Liding’s collective income reached 1.19 million yuan in 2024, up from 220,000 yuan, driven by tourism facility rentals and homestay dividends.
Approximately 70 percent of villagers earn wetland-related income through employment, land leases, and sales of local goods, helping annual per-capita income surpass 30,000 yuan in 2025.
For the outdoor recreation industry, sustainable wetland restoration highlights the direct link between environmental conservation and regional economic growth.
