Birdwatchers from across the country come to the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve in search of rare bird species.
Guo Guangsen spent the first half of his life as a forest ranger in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, located in Luoshan county, Xinyang, central China's Henan Province. After retirement, he became a bird guide, helping birdwatchers find their way.
In the early years, the Dabie Mountains, where the nature reserve is located, suffered from poor soil conditions and frequent crop failures. For local villagers, relying on the mountains was their only way to make a living. Families would go into the mountains to collect firewood for cooking, while some villagers secretly set up bird nets, traps, hunted wildlife, and cut down trees to sell for extra income.
In 2001, the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve was officially established. A forest closure and restoration policy was introduced across the area, completely banning uncontrolled firewood collection and illegal hunting. Guo recalled that villagers initially found it difficult to accept.
To address villagers' concerns, the local government provided ecological compensation, guided communities in developing forest-based industries that supported conservation, and encouraged residents to participate in protection efforts. It also offered training and assistance to help villagers find work outside the mountains.
