Money grown on trees

Barren hills to lush canopies

Named after the saddle-shaped mountains that surround it, the Ma'anshan Forest Farm in Chifeng of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region covers 10,007 hectares and boasts a forest coverage rate of 95.7 percent. Once desolate and eroded, the area has become a thriving tourist attraction and a model for under-forest economies that benefit local people.

"When I was young, these hills were bare and scarred by severe soil erosion," said Zhang Ruiwen, a 51-year-old forest ranger who has patrolled the area for over two decades. "Now it's all green and full of life — you can easily spot pheasants and squirrels."

Founded in 1962 with less than 20 percent forest coverage, the Ma'anshan Forest Farm has been transformed through the hard work of three generations of foresters. Locals, cherishing the hard-won greenery, have shifted from traditional logging to sustainable management.

"The forest farm adopts an ecological management approach that focuses on protection and conservation," said Li Ming, deputy director of the forestry and grassland bureau in Harqin Banner, where the farm is located. The area's main tree species include Chinese red pine, larch, white birch and aspen, providing ideal habitats for wildlife. The forest is home to 108 bird species and 608 types of vascular plants, Li said.

Large herds of wild boars and roe deer have been spotted at the forest farm, according to Zhang.

Since 2018, all commercial logging in the natural forest has been suspended. Forest workers, once known as "tree cutters", have become dedicated "tree protectors".