Yunnan villagers start bird watching business for extra income

The Nujiang River valley in southwestern China is known as one of the country's poorest regions. But some locals are using the mountains to their advantage by launching a bird watching business. Over the years, it's helped create jobs and protect the environment. Meng  Qingsheng reports from Yunnan Province. 

The Gaoligong Mountains in western Yunnan Province is a sanctuary for wild birds. Each morning, Hu Guiyu would come to this place to feed the wild species. It's one of the fifteen secret locations in Sanhe Village for photographers to watch and film birds.

HU  GUIYU Sanhe Villager "Some birds prefer eating grains, while others like to eat fruit. For sunbirds, they eat flowers. I also feed them with mealworms. Since the business started in 2018, I've earned a lot from it. I'm planning to upgrade this venue and attract more visitors."

Hu charges each visitor around nine dollars for a whole-day's filming. He also earns extra income by providing catering and logistical services. Zhang Chaojiang, a member of the poverty alleviation work team, is the person behind this business model.

ZHANG  CHAOJIANG Member of Nujiang Poverty Alleviation Work Team "Before I came here, locals used to kill birds with slingshots and cook them. Then in 2018, I started this bird watching workshop to help combat poverty.

It's involved 45 local families. They make money from Mother Nature, by providing filming locations."

Hu Guiyu's home is just one hundred meters away from the bird watching site. The family of four, including his wife and two children, was lifted out of poverty in  2014.

HU  GUIYU Sanhe Villager "Though my family got out of poverty, we continue to enjoy favorable policies by the government. They gave us chickens, sheep, and subsidies for building the new house. And my two children enjoy a free education at school. My life has become much easier now."

MENG  QINGSHENG Lushui County, Yunnan "This is the typical landscape of the great canyon of Nujiang River. The region has limited arable land and frequent natural disasters, and is known as one of the poorest regions in China.

Now, locals have turned to a business model connected with its mountain resources. And bird-watching has become a sustainable source of family income."

So far, the bird watching business has brought nearly thirty thousand dollars to local villagers. Authorities are now working to upgrade this business model.

CHU  FANGLAN Party Chief of Luzhang Town "We're now working to integrate the bird watching business with rural tourism, which features introduction of wild bird cultures. Only by doing it this way, can the industry maintain upward momentum. It will attract more visitors to Sanhe Village."

Hu Guiyu takes training sessions regularly to improve his expertise. He hopes that the bird watching business would move the family closer towards a more prosperous life. Meng Qingsheng,  CGTN, Lushui County, Yunnan Province.