GUARDIANS of the FORESTS

In the heart of the dense forests of the Greater Hinggan Mountains, as the first rays of morning sunlight pierce through the trees, forestry police officer Zhao Xiaohui and his colleague Li Hui start a day's patrol in the mountainous area of Alongshan town, Genhe in the northeast of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

"The work of forest police is different from the police officers in cities," Zhao says.

"For us, the lush forest with various wild animals running around carefree is our mission, which is also the value of our job."

Stretching from northwestern Heilongjiang province to the east of Inner Mongolia, the Greater Hinggan Mountains are home to the country's largest forest. Zhao and Li's branch oversees an area of 357,427 hectares, with forest covering 339,520 hectares, which means a climate of unpredictable extremes throughout the year. The region has harsh, lengthy winters and short, hot summers, with drastic temperature variations between day and night. With winter temperatures plummeting to — 50 C, it stands as one of the coldest areas in the country.

After graduating from college in 1990, the then 21-year-old Zhao became a forest police officer and has dedicated himself to safeguarding the Greater Hinggan Mountains area in Alongshan. From the biting cold of winter to the challenges posed by insects like mosquitoes in summer, ticks and horseflies during spring, the officers, like Zhao, face myriad obstacles in their daily duties.

Despite the harsh conditions and rugged terrain, the daily patrol of Zhao and Li includes nearly 100 kilometers by car and more than 30 km on foot.

For Li, a post-1990s generation police officer, she is proud of her job, although it is quite different from those of the brave figures portrayed in crime-fighting movies, which inspired her to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Since joining the branch in 2017, Li has become Zhao's work partner and apprentice. After seven years' cooperation, they have patrolled in extreme cold and protected the pristine forests of the northern Greater Hinggan Mountains.

"I have spent years here in the company of these forests. I know where the flowers bloom, where the birds sing, and where the deer roam. I know when the stars shine the brightest, and I see the wildlife and plant life flourishing. It fills me with immense pride," Li says.

Over the years, forest police officers like Zhao and Li have made significant contributions in guaranteeing the region's environmental conservation.