STORY: China's Bijie balances growth, green drive
DATELINE: Aug. 4, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:42
LOCATION: GUIYANG, China
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of views in Guizhou
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG XIURONG, Project manager of Guizhou Yongju Eco-Agriculture Co., Ltd.
3. various of workers and farmers in Guizhou
4. various of views in Guizhou
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): YANG JUN, Party official of Jinxing Village
6. various of workers and farmers in Guizhou
7. various of views in Guizhou
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): JIN JI, Head of local breeding base
9. various of views in Guizhou
 
STORYLINE:
 
Bijie City was one of the areas most severely affected by rocky desertification in southwest China's Guizhou Province.
 
In recent years, the city has been striving to balance ecology protection and economic growth.
 
With green transformation, Bijie completed the afforestation of 7.17 million mu (478,493 hectares) and reclaimed 862.69 square kilometers of rocky desertification from 2017 to 2022.
 
During the same period, its forest coverage increased from 52 percent to 60 percent.
 
With the improvement of natural environment, people in Bijie's villages have also found new ways to live a better life.
 
By introducing companies and establishing cooperatives to drive local industries, such as planting edible mushrooms and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, Nayong County of Bijie City is gradually turning "green" into "gold."
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG XIURONG, Project manager of Guizhou Yongju Eco-Agriculture Co., Ltd.
"We cultivate medicinal herbs in the forest because it's close to the growing environment of their natural habitat. With good air quality and high permeability, the incidence of pests and diseases is reduced. There is little grass in the forest, saving the costs of weeding. The shading rate here is about 75 to 85 percent, so there is no need to build greenhouses or sunshade nets."
 
Jinxing Village has witnessed a significant increase in forest coverage, which not only improved natural conditions but also helped people find a path to wealth.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): YANG JUN, Party official of Jinxing Village
"Jinxing Village now possesses 8,242 mu (552 hectares) of forest resources. Villagers gained over one million yuan (about 139,200 USD) through thinning (in 2021)."
 
Relying on the unique resource advantages, Fangzhu Town has witnessed quality rural development by developing various industries.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): JIN JI, Head of local breeding base
"We started breeding pheasants in July 2021, and now we have nearly 400 mu (26.8 hectares) of breeding area. The base is located at an altitude of about 1,800 meters, making it suitable for pheasant breeding. We have leased land for family farms to cultivate various fruit trees. We also have an ecological farm, which is running quite well. It can provide about 6,500 temporary jobs to people from neighboring areas each year."
 
Today, Guizhou boasts forest coverage of over 62 percent. The annual per capita net income of people lifted out of poverty reached 13,200 yuan, according to official data.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Guiyang, China.
(XHTV)