By restricting access to the wetland by cattle, more than 100 hooded cranes have been found to stay longer in the reserve this year.

All of these regulations were made after consultations with the local communities, says a reserve manager. "Without the local communities' support, we cannot achieve sustainable development."

Song Guoxian (left), director of the reserve, with some patrolmen.

Besides, the reserve has also put special emphasis on scientific research and capacity building by cooperating with different research institutes and international conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Funded by the TNC China Office, for example, the reserve will send four of its 24 regular employees to Hong Kong to receive training at a local wetland reserve.

(China Daily April 23, 2008)