Common prosperity

For villagers in the Qianjiangyuan-Baishanzu National Park, conservation doesn't come at the expense of livelihoods. Instead, innovative policies have helped improve lives.

In 2018, the Qiangjiangyuan administration began to roll out land easement reforms under which villagers who collectively own large portions of forest and individually hold rights of use are encouraged to lease the land to authorities for conservation and management. In exchange, they receive compensation.

Hengzhong village, one of the most remote in Kaihua county, was the first to test the waters.

The 0.73 hectares of forest allocated to Yu Jiaqi were not managed and provided his family with no income as a result of Yu's chronic pneumonia until, that is, he signed a conservation easement agreement in 2018. "I receive 2,000 yuan ($300) a year," he said.

All 399 households in the village have now signed up.

In addition, Hengzhong has set up a public fund for forest management and development and has started businesses related to tourism. Each year, 50,000 yuan from the fund is used toward environmental restoration and protection.

Recently, the reforms have been extended to farmland in and around the national park.