Forest folk branch out to escape poverty

Peach trees in blossom in Nyingchi, Tibet autonomous region, in March. [Photo by Zhang Rufeng/For China Daily]

Wildlife concerns

However, a rise in the number of wild animals has caused many problems, especially the growing monkey population, which has resulted in crops being damaged.

The locals say it's difficult to keep the monkeys off their fields. "When you go to the field, they go away, but they return as soon as you depart," Nyima Tsering said, adding that cattle have also been attacked by wild animals.

During June and July, when the plants and trees are in full blossom, the area sees a rise in the number of bears, which often attack cattle.

In July 2015, one of Nyima Tsering's 16 cows was killed by a brown bear. Although Nyima Tsering was saddened when people from his community told him the news after seeing the cow's carcass, he was relieved to discover that the local government would compensate him via a program designed to prevent conflict between local people and wild animals.

Compensation program

"I received compensation of 960 yuan for the dead cow after rangers and local officials visited the scene. They took photos as evidence and reported the matter to the higher-level authorities," he said.

Yang Hongqing, an official with the Nyingchi forestry authority, said the government pays compensation of 960 yuan for the loss of a cow age 2 or older, but if a resident loses a yak of the same age, the compensation rises to 1,500 yuan. Meanwhile, if the grain yield falls because of wild animals - which not only eat seeds but also play in the fields and damage the crops - compensation is calculated according to the amount lost.

According to Dong Guijun, head of the forestry authority, last year the local government paid compensation of almost 4.8 million yuan to farmers and herdsmen who suffered losses.

In addition to employing 300 full-time forest rangers, the local government has combined ecological protection with poverty-relief efforts.

Job opportunities

It has also provided a further 14,547 part-time posts, including forest and animal rangers and inspectors, for people from impoverished families.

Another 6,787 posts for poverty-stricken people will be created by the end of the year, he said.

Local law enforcement authorities have maintained a tough stance against people who injure or kill wild animals or damage the forest's resources. So far this year, 51 cases have been brought to court and 27 people have been sent to prison, according to Zhao Shuming, Nyingchi's executive vice-mayor.

The improvement of the local environment has greatly boosted tourism. Last year, the number of visitors to Nyingchi rose to more than 4.37 million. In 2012, the number was 2.84 million. Meanwhile, the revenue generated by tourism jumped to 3.9 billion yuan last year, from 2.2 billion in 2012, Zhao said.

He added that 85,000 people are now directly involved in the local tourism industry, which has helped to raise annual per capita incomes by an average of 6,300 yuan.

According to the Nyingchi tourism authority, local farmers and herdsmen have set up 538 guesthouses, with a total of 4,945 bedrooms.

Last year, the 7,818 farmers and herdsmen directly involved in tourism made a combined 104 million yuan from their businesses.

Nyima Tsering has invested 100,000 yuan to convert four rooms in his home for tourist use. He said the local government is providing subsidies to encourage local people to establish guesthouses and benefit from recent developments.

The subsidy for his guesthouse will be calculated after the conversions have been completed, and will be calculated based on the scale of his business and the money he has plowed into it.

"Instead of cutting down trees to make money, many locals have turned to tourism to make a living from the rising number of visitors that has resulted from improvements in the environment. I want to join them," he said.