Guardian ensures key national waterway kept tidy

Drolma Ben, a native of the vast grasslands of Zoige county in Sichuan province, has always felt a deep connection to the Yellow River. For the 36-year-old, this mighty waterway, snaking its way through his homeland, represents a source of life, a symbol of home and a call to responsibility.

Growing up on the high plateau, Drolma Ben learned to ride horseback, tend to herds and embrace the sun-kissed, rugged life of a plateau child. At 18, he answered the call to serve his country, joining the army and venturing away from his beloved river.

However, upon returning home after serving 12 years in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, he felt drawn to the Yellow River once again. He became a member of the Zoige Yellow River Protection Team, which was established in 2021 and consists of 50 young Tibetan men.

As guardians of the Yellow River, Drolma Ben and his companions embark on regular patrols, traversing the 148.8 kilometers of the river in Zoige once a month. They are tasked to protect 73 rivers, six lakes and three key wetlands in the county.

Drolma Ben recounted the immense amount of waste along the Yellow River in his hometown when the team was established, noting it as the "biggest problem" that jeopardized the environment.

In the beginning, the team planned to clear garbage from 20 km of the Yellow River's trunk every day. However, they soon found this mission impossible.

The sheer volume of garbage along the river meant that they could only cover 2 km a day. The team's two pickup trucks were frequently overwhelmed, and they sometimes had to ask nearby residents to help transport the trash away with their tractors.

But their consistent efforts have paid off. Since 2021, they have collected close to 70 metric tons of garbage from the Yellow River, and it's become a hard task to find litter along the Yellow River in Zoige nowadays.

"Now, we only have to carry with us several big bags when patrolling. They are enough to hold garbage we collect in one day," he said.

The team also actively participates in the local government's tree-planting initiative.

During a 2022 tree planting campaign, the team undertook the task of pre-digging tree pits along a 20-km stretch of area along the Yellow River, which is more than 100 km from the county seat.

To accomplish the task, they lived and worked on site for nearly a month, working from 7 am to 6 pm every day. To date, the team has planted more than 300,000 trees along the Yellow River.

Summer is the busiest season for the team, as tourists flock in, drawn by the captivating beauty of the grasslands. Amid the bustling crowds, Drolma Ben and his team stay vigilant, ensuring the safety of visitors, promoting responsible tourism and preventing any harm to the local ecosystem.

Early in August, while patrolling Flower Lake, Drolma Ben encountered a tourist from Zhongwei in Ningxia, where he served in the army. Recognizing the man's accent, Drolma Ben couldn't help stopping him to have a chat.

After learning what Drolma Ben has been doing, the tourist responded with heartfelt gratitude.

"He extended his thanks to me and my team for taking such good care of the Yellow River in Zoige," Drolma Ben recalled.

The kind words from the tourist made Drolma Ben even more determined to continue his work.

"Previous generations lacked the awareness to protect the Yellow River, but that's no longer the case for my generation. We will steadfastly keep protecting the Yellow River with perseverance," he said.