Chinanews, Beijing October 19 – About 60% of the forestland in Luzhang Town in the Nujiang River Basin have become nature reserves. However, perfect natural environment and beautiful landscapes here have not been able to help lift the farmers here out of poverty, who have sacrificed their well-being for the environment in the past.

 

Not only in Luzhang, but farmers in many other nature reserves in western China as well are struggling in poverty. Caohai Lake National Nature Reserve in Guizhou is another example. In order to restore the lake, most farmlands in the villages nearby were submerged in water. Today, even with the aid of the central government, the villagers in Caohao National Nature Reserve cannot make ends meet at all.

 

good life or a good natural environment? This is a question raised to many farmers in nature reserves in western China. Obviously, these nature reserves play irreplaceable role in preserving biodiversity, even the preservation of the environment nationwide, as many rivers in the country originate here.

 

Thus it is best for the central government to raise allowances and aids to these natural reserves, to guarantee a harmonious and well-balanced future for not only the people there, but also for the country as a whole.