Baolawendu Nature Reserve

Baolawendu Nature Reserve

Baolawendu Nature Reserve is situated on the upper reaches of the West Liaohe River, on the eastern edge of the Horqin Sandy Land (grassland), in the western part of Jilin Province and the southwestern part of Tongyu County. Its geographical coordinates are between 122°15′35″–122°41′21″ east longitude and 44°13′50″–44°31′30″ north latitude. To the west, it neighbors Horqin Right Middle Banner in Inner Mongolia, and to the south, it borders Horqin Left Middle Banner in Inner Mongolia. It is 90 kilometers from Tongyu County seat, stretching 23 kilometers from north to south and 34 kilometers from east to west, covering a total area of 62,190 hectares. The reserve is divided into three zones: the core zone, buffer zone, and experimental zone. The core zone spans 22,339 hectares, the buffer zone 21,304 hectares, and the experimental zone 18,547 hectares. The reserve has a total of 1,280 households and a population of 4,803, including 3,360 agricultural residents. The area lies in the transitional zone between the Inner Mongolian grassland and the Songliao Plain, featuring mostly fixed sand dunes, farmland, sand dunes, grasslands, and saline-alkali land interspersed with each other. The ridge-like sand dunes alternate with interdune grasslands and saline-alkali areas, extending in a northwest–southeast direction, showcasing the pristine landforms of elm forests on sand dunes, wild apricot forests, meadows, reeds, marshes, and lake waters.

Baolawendu Reserve is classified as a "natural ecosystem" type, specifically an inland wetland and aquatic ecosystem nature reserve. It is currently the most intact and largest wetland area preserved in the province, with 30,917 hectares of natural wetlands (including 25,017 hectares of reeds, ranking second in Jilin Province). The forested area covers 13,522 hectares (including 1,692 hectares of wild apricot forests), grasslands 15,340 hectares, and other land uses 2,411 hectares. The plant flora in the reserve belongs to the temperate semi-humid meadow steppe type, dominated by reed marshes. There are 266 species of wild animals and 199 species of birds. The reserve hosts 393 species of wild plants across 81 families, including over 40 types of medicinal plants. Notably, the wild apricot forests on sand dunes, primarily composed of wild Mongolian apricots, feature neat and well-distributed tree stands. These are currently the only concentrated, well-preserved, and thriving natural forest communities in China and even Asia that grow in non-acidic soil and semi-arid regions. They hold not only ornamental value but also significant scientific research and economic importance. The vegetation coverage in the reserve reaches 70%, and its typicality and uniqueness play a vital role in wetland research and conservation.

To strengthen ecological development in western Jilin, the Baolawendu Provincial Nature Reserve was established in 2002 with the approval of the provincial government (Document No. Ji Zheng Han [2002] 134). In line with the spirit of the "Opinions on the Management of Baolawendu Nature Reserve" issued by the Baicheng Municipal People's Government (Document No. Bai Zheng Han [2003] 53), the Baolawendu Nature Reserve Administration was created to better protect the marsh wetlands and the Mongolian wild apricot forests—among the largest in Asia growing in non-acidic soils—and to effectively preserve the local ecology. The administration is a full-funded public institution at the division (or bureau) level, managed by Tongyu County Government on behalf of the provincial forestry department. It has eight full-time staff positions, including one director, two deputy directors, and four departments: Research, Finance, Office, and Police Station. Operating under the management authority of provincial nature reserves as defined by the provincial government, it is responsible for protecting and managing the inland wetland ecosystems—mainly reed marshes—within the reserve, preserving the original Mongolian wild apricot plant communities, and safeguarding rare species, especially national first- and second-class protected animals.

The Wen niugechi River originates in Inner Mongolia, runs through the entire reserve, and forms large wetland areas within it. This enriches the region’s groundwater resources, benefits wildlife migration, and promotes the development of local agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries. There are two major bird migration routes in the world—one in the Western Hemisphere (United States) and one in the Eastern Hemisphere (China). Baolawendu Reserve is situated at a key node of the Eastern Hemisphere’s bird migration corridor. Monitored first-class protected animals include the Oriental stork, red-crowned crane, white crane, Siberian crane, and great bustard. Second-class protected animals such as the whooper swan, tundra swan, white-naped crane, demoiselle crane, and common crane average around 1,000 individuals annually. Other migratory birds such as geese, ducks, and shorebirds number approximately 500,000. The reserve’s bird monitoring station has been designated as a national-level bird monitoring station by the National Forestry Administration. The unique combination of wetland, forest, and grassland vegetation makes the reserve irreplaceable in terms of ecological protection.

Baolawendu Reserve is a key fire-prone area in western Jilin and the Baicheng region. In recent years, effective emergency plans have been implemented. By distributing informational flyers to local residents, conducting fire prevention drills, and enforcing fire safety responsibilities, comprehensive prevention capabilities have significantly improved. The administration has undergone multiple fire prevention inspections by city and county authorities, and its leadership has been recognized by the provincial government as an advanced worker in forest fire prevention. Great achievements have also been made in forest pest control. A comprehensive monitoring and prevention system has been established, successfully controlling tent caterpillar infestations for five consecutive years and ensuring no major forest fires occurred throughout the year. In terms of resource protection, preventive and enforcement efforts have been intensified, with round-the-clock monitoring deployed in key areas and sensitive zones. Joint operations with the county public security bureau have strictly cracked down on illegal land reclamation and wetland destruction, effectively halting vegetation and wetland damage within the reserve. Over the years, more than 30 offenders have been penalized. Bird protection patrols have been strengthened with additional patrol vehicles and 24-hour monitoring in critical bird migration zones. Two criminal gangs involved in on-site poisoning and over 20 illegal hunters were successfully apprehended, serving as a strong deterrent, educating the public, and ensuring the safe migration of hundreds of thousands of birds while keeping migration routes unobstructed.

Since its establishment, Baolawendu Reserve has enhanced its infrastructure, with steadily improving office buildings, protection stations, and scientific research and monitoring equipment. A new 500-square-meter office building has been constructed, along with updated office equipment and patrol vehicles. A large amount of disease and pest monitoring equipment and bird observation tools have been purchased, and two high-standard bird monitoring stations have been built. To protect the ecology and maintain Tongyu’s western windbreak function, the administration actively sought national projects such as the "Three-North" Shelterbelt Program (Phase V), afforestation projects from the provincial forestry department, and alkali control initiatives from the provincial development and reform commission. These efforts have significantly improved the ecological conditions in the southwestern part of Tongyu. The reserve has also established a collaborative management mechanism with local party committees, governments, and residents. Agreements on cohabitation and joint construction have been signed with four local towns and farms. Donations of funds and materials have been provided to residents, and coordination with relevant departments has resolved issues such as poor communication signals and low voltage in the area. The work of the reserve has gained genuine understanding and support from local residents, marking a significant step forward in conservation efforts.

The name "Baolawendu" means "purple hills" in Mongolian. Due to its unique geographical location and arid climate, the area features vast natural landscapes of reed marshes, meadow grasslands, wild apricot forests, and sand dune elm woods. As early as 1956, the wild apricot forests of Baolawendu were listed among Jilin Province’s 27 tourist attractions in the book "Tales of Jilin," published by the People's Daily Press, attracting attention and evoking imagination. The Wen niugechi River runs through the reserve from northwest to southeast, with 10 large and small ponds scattered throughout. Each spring and autumn, it attracts numerous migratory birds. In late April and early May, when the wild apricot blossoms are in full bloom, the area draws many tourists, holidaymakers, and photography enthusiasts. Visitors can not only enjoy the pristine natural scenery of Baolawendu but also experience the unique culture and hospitality of the Mongolian ethnic minority, making it an ideal destination for leisure and recreation. The reserve actively promotes eco-tourism and has successfully hosted ten Apricot Blossom Festivals. While continuously enhancing the reserve’s visibility, these events have contributed significantly to the sustainable development of the region’s economy, society, and environment.