Xia Weichun: The Guardian Deep in the Mountains

Xia Weichun: Guardian Deep in the Mountains

At Haikou Forest Farm in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, forest ranger Xia Weichun has silently guarded this stretch of mountains for over 30 years, interpreting the responsibility and commitment of forestry workers through his perseverance.

In 1990, shortly after graduation, Xia Weichun was assigned to the Shanchong Forest Area of Haikou Forest Farm. Upon taking office, he stood firm on the frontline of forest fire prevention, undertaking tasks of forest fire monitoring and forecasting, and building the first line of defense for the safety of the mountains. Since 2003, he has been transferred to the Zhongbao Forest Area. This area features a large management scope, abundant forest resources, and complex geographical location. His work has also expanded to mountain patrols for forest protection, publicizing laws and regulations on forest conservation, and eliminating fire hazards. Whether conducting daily patrols or keeping a close watch on forest dynamics from the observation tower, he has always been diligent and never slackened.

"Many trees in the forest area were planted by the older generation of forest rangers, including my father. I must guard this forest well to live up to the hard work of the elder generation," said Xia Weichun. As the descendant of a forestry worker, his words are full of the original aspiration of inheritance.

Thanks to the unremitting efforts of generations of forest farm workers like Xia Weichun, Haikou Forest Farm has achieved a magnificent ecological transformation. From a time when the forest coverage rate was almost zero, it has risen to 71.24% by 2020, with the forest green coverage rate reaching as high as 81.89%. Every touch of green in these mountains embodies the sweat of guardians like Xia Weichun.

（注：内容来自新华社和生态环境部）