On May 26, Hunan Province's main event for the International Day for Biological Diversity (observed annually on May 22), and also the Green Guardians' Journey to Hunan activity, was launched in Changsha County. Hunan released 10 outstanding practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

These outstanding practices span multiple fields, including nature reserves, state-owned forest farms, and agricultural and rural sectors. For instance, the Jiangkou Bird Island Provincial Nature Reserve in Hengnan County, Hengyang, has carried out habitat restoration and intelligent monitoring, becoming an important stopover for migratory birds with a total bird population exceeding 100,000. The Hengling Lake Provincial Nature Reserve in Xiangyin County, Yueyang, has implemented a tiered wetland restoration approach, recording 43,234 migratory birds in 2025. The Badagong Mountain National Nature Reserve in Sangzhi County, Zhangjiajie, recognized by IUCN as one of the World's Best Protected Areas, is home to 7,727 species of wild flora and fauna and hailed as a "natural museum."

In terms of rare species protection, the Jicheng Milu Deer Provincial Nature Reserve in Yueyang has seen its Milu deer population increase from 2 initially to 46, with an annual growth rate of 68.6%, making it the fastest-growing area in the Yangtze River Basin. The Huangsang National Nature Reserve in Suining County, Shaoyang, rolled out six targeted protection measures for 37 Nothotsuga longibracteata trees, successfully cultivating over 1,000 seedlings. Based on a decade-long systematic survey, the Gaowangjie National Nature Reserve in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture has recorded 49 species of nationally protected wild plants and seven species of national first-class protected animals.

Additionally, the Wuyunjie National Nature Reserve in Taoyuan County, Changde, innovated a "government-school-community" collaborative model, integrating ecological education and forest fire prevention into the school curriculum system for over 1,000 teachers and students. The Qingyang Lake State-Owned Forest Farm in Ningxiang, Changsha, established a "near-nature protection—up-close education—full-chain transformation" model, receiving over 100,000 science education visits annually. The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Huaihua City has developed a "Micro Lectures, Grand Revitalization" volunteer service brand, organizing nearly 80 science education activities for teenagers. The Bamianshan National Nature Reserve in Guidong County, Chenzhou, home to China's largest number of cathaya argyrophylla trees, has developed 1,025 homestays by leveraging its favorable ecology.

In recent years, Hunan has coordinated high-quality development, high-level protection, and high-efficient governance, striving to build a solid ecological security barrier encompassing "one river (the Hunan section of the Yangtze River), one lake (the Dongting Lake), the three mountains (Wuling-Xuefeng Mountain Range, Nanling Mountain Range, and Luoxiao-Mufu Mountain Range), and the four waters (Xiangjiang, Zijiang, Yuanjiang, and Lishui rivers)," to achieve significant results in advancing biodiversity conservation. To date, the province's forest coverage rate has reached 54.18%, and its overall grassland vegetation coverage stands at 87%. A total of 1,068 species of vertebrates and 6,292 species of vascular plants have been recorded, including 192 species of nationally protected wild animals and 156 species of nationally protected wild plants.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn