xī zàng rén

西藏人

zěn yàng

怎样

chéng wéi

成为

yà zhōu

亚洲

shuǐ tǎ

水塔

de

的

shēng tài

生态

shǒu hù zhě

守护者

Sanjiangyuan is in Qinghai. It is the source of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang Rivers, so it is often called the “Water Tower of Asia.”

Most of the people here are Tibetan herders.

Over the past few decades, climate change has made glaciers melt faster, and rainfall has become less stable, bringing droughts and floods. As a result, protecting Sanjiangyuan has become more and more important.

In the 1990s, local Tibetan communities began protecting wild animals such as snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes.

Later, the government created larger protected areas and invested a lot of money to restore grasslands, wetlands, and lakes.

Many herders reduced the number of animals they grazed, and some even moved to new villages.

To let people live their lives while also protecting the environment, the government and social organizations worked together to promote “co-management.”

Starting in 2016, the local area introduced the “one household, one post” policy. Many herders became ecological rangers, responsible for watching over water sources, animals, and forests, picking up trash, and reporting illegal activities. They also earned an income.

Now, more and more Tibetan women are joining in too. They are learning environmental protection knowledge, joining cooperatives, and developing handicrafts and other green jobs.

After years of effort, the grasslands, water sources, and wildlife in Sanjiangyuan have all improved.

Tibetan communities have always been at the forefront, protecting this important water source and also protecting the future of many people.