The Markog River forest in China's Qinghai province, a critical ecological area and source for the Yangtze River, has undergone a significant transformation from a logging site to a conserved natural forest, showcasing successful ecological protection efforts.

• Over two decades, the forest's coverage increased from 51 percent to 69.58 percent, and its stock volume grew from 4.2 million to 4.8 million cubic meters.
• The project employs 259 "herder-rangers" who collectively earned over 60 million yuan (about $8.44 million) from ecological management.
• The area is now home to 180 species of wild vertebrates, including 12 national first-class protected animals like leopards and snow leopards, and 984 species of forest plants.