Guarding Forests Amid Chilly Spring, Youth Unite to Protect Ecology. To practice the concept of ecological civilization and foster environmental awareness among young people, the Communist Youth League Committee of Zhijin County, together with the Cultural Volunteer Service Team of Zhijin County and the Zhijin County Young Volunteers Association, recently organized 180 young volunteers and college students returning to their hometowns to carry out the public welfare activity themed “Zhijin Junior Forest Rangers – Jointly Safeguarding Ecological Beauty” at the Zhijindong Cave Global Geopark. This effort has helped take root the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” through practical actions.
At the start of the activity, Fang Yi, a Provincial-level Junior Forest Ranger at Zhijindong Cave, conducted on-site pre-job training. She elaborated on the park’s ecological overview, key points for identifying rare animals and plants, basic knowledge of forest fire prevention, and safety rules for forest patrol routes, making it clear to volunteers what to patrol, how to patrol, and what to protect. As the vital force for ecological protection, young people play an indispensable role. This activity is not only a concrete step in implementing the “Beautiful China · Youth Action” initiative, but also a vivid platform guiding college students returning home to give back to their hometown and take on responsibilities. It is hoped that volunteers will inject youthful vitality into the ecological protection of Zhijindong Cave with a professional attitude and practical spirit.
Subsequently, the 180 volunteers were divided into 15 patrol teams. Wearing uniform volunteer vests and equipped with litter pickers, environmental protection bags, forest patrol logs and other tools, they carried out “carpet-style” patrols deep into the core forest areas of Zhijin Cave along pre-set routes. On the mountain and forest trails, volunteers worked in close coordination: on one hand, they carefully cleaned up dead branches, fallen leaves, plastic waste, discarded packaging and other litter, sorting recyclables and other waste for separate collection; on the other hand, they focused on identifying hidden dangers of outdoor fire use, carefully checking for risky behaviors such as unauthorized smoking and straw burning around forest areas, acting as “mobile sentinels” safeguarding forest safety.
After more than three hours of concentrated patrols, the activity achieved remarkable results: over 20 kilograms of forest litter were cleared, a 5-kilometer key forest area patrol was completed, more than 500 copies of promotional materials were distributed, and over 40 ecological observation records were collected.
A person in charge of the Zhijin County Young Volunteers Association stated that taking this activity as an opportunity, the association will continue to strengthen the “Youth Forest Protection” volunteer service brand. It will work with the Communist Youth League Committee of Zhijin County and the Cultural Volunteer Service Team to establish a regular volunteer service mechanism for ecological protection at Zhijindong Cave, attract more young people to join the forest patrol and protection team, and promote the formation of an ecological protection pattern featuring “youth leadership, public participation, and long-term persistence”. “When young people thrive, ecology thrives. We will continue to guide young volunteers to dedicate their youth to the frontline of ecological protection, making the ‘volunteer red’ the most eye-catching color among the green mountains and clear waters of Zhijindong Cave, and contributing a steady stream of youthful strength to protecting the world-class geological wonder and building a beautiful Guizhou.”
It is reported that this forest patrol and protection public welfare activity is a concrete measure to promote the effective implementation of the“Forest Chief System”in Zhijin County, as well as a vivid practice of deeply integrating young volunteer services with ecological protection. As 180 young figures shuttle through the green mountains and forests of Zhijindong Cave, and as environmental awareness continues to spread through voluntary actions, the beautiful vision of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is gradually unfolding across central Guizhou, adding an increasingly profound ecological foundation to Zhijindong Cave, the“gem of karst caves”.
