Ecological Policing in Yinchuan

Yinchuan， a city renowned for its pristine ecological environment， captivates the senses. A glance outof a window reveals an enchanting sight of meandering rivers， while stepping outdoors one sees a city adorned with vibrant gardens. This setting is reminiscent of the poetic lines. "varied hues caressing the gardens， mirroring emerald waves." This beauty is a testament to the city's unwavering commitment to sustainable development， which brings joy to every resident.

On May 5th，the satisfaction of Yinchuan residents with their city was palpable during a ceremony that recognised the city as one of the top 10 in China for quality of life. Moreover， it ranked among the top five major cities， surpassing the national average score for security and access to essential amenities by over 7 percentage points.

The Yinchuan Public Security Bureau recognizes the connection between the ecological environment and people's quality of life. Guided by this principle， the Bureau has taken commendable steps in recent years to enhance its ecological governance through collaboration among internal and external departments and the integration of law enforcement with preventive measures. Moreover， the officers have gone beyond reducing environmental pollution by actively supporting initiatives that improve overall environmental quality. These efforts reflect the Bureau's commitment to vigorously protecting the ecological integrity of the Yellow River Basin and positioning Yinchuan as a model city for high-quality development.

Coordination between Forest Rangers and Ecological Officers

"In chariots we ride with strength and determination， over the Helan Mountains， facing invaders without hesitation..." These 12th century lines from General Yue Fei's poem， "The River All Red，"have etched the Helan Mountains deep within the hearts of the Chinese people. The mountains stretch across Ningxia and Inner Mongolia， serving as a vital line of demarcation. To safeguard the ecology on the eastern side of the Helan Mountains， the Ningxia provincial government initiated a pilot project in 2018 to restore this region's forests， fields， lakes， and grasslands.  Yinchuan unveiled a three-year action plan， designating spaces for ecological preservation to ensure they are free from productive and residential activities.

A vital component of this action plan is the implementation of a comprehensive ecological policing mechanism， which emphasizes close coordination between police officers and ecological personnel to safeguard forests， rivers， and lakes. This mechanism operates at four levels： the city， county， township， and village， each with well-defined responsibilities and protocols. To effectively pursue the Bureau's ecological objectives， a dedicated force of 396 "ecological officers" has been deployed throughout the green waters and lush mountains of Yinchuan.

One of them is Cui Yongfeng，an officer from Nuanquan Police Station in Helan County. Alongside forest conservation volunteers， he regularly embarks on forest patrols. "Let me tell you， patrolling the mountains is no strolling，" Cui said. "There are no proper trails， just steep slopes， ravines， and it takes stamina sometimes to trampthrough thick bushes！" Cui spoke passionately about the importance of his job. "Fire prevention， theft prevention， illegal logging prevention， and anti-poaching are all top priorities in mountain patrols."

"In the past， you rarely saw Himalayan Blue Sheep around because people hunted them so much. But things have changed， and now they're a frequent sight. Can you believe it？ These cheeky little guys even go for leisurely walks in tourist areas or just wander into nearby vineyards，" Cui shared. According to the officer， the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve now has 12 species of wild animals under first-level national protection and 41 species under second-level national protection. This is a testament to the hard work of the ecological officers.

Ecological Governance

For the Forest Branch of the Yinchuan Public Security Bureau， May to October each year is of vital importance in forest fire prevention. To effectively address major fire incidents， the Branch has implemented a comprehensive emergency response plan， which encompasses both daily fire prevention measures and timely organization of fire scene surveillance and investigation. In their efforts to raise public awareness of fire hazards， the Branch has employed various methods such as public notices， banners， signs， and educational flyers. They have also utilized text messages to inform individuals entering the forest about fire safety protocols. Furthermore， the dedicated forest police officers have collaborated closely with forest rangers and security staff， conducting regular mountain patrols to swiftly detect any potential sources of fire， thereby ensuring the safety of tourists while preserving natural resources. Lastly， during the implementation of these fire prevention campaigns and initiatives， the Forest Branch has actively coordinated with other police departments， ensuring clear responsibilities and the elimination of all fire hazards.

Xie Xiaojun， the Branch's Deputy Director， explained： "To be honest， my job has become much easier than before. It's all thanks to our extensive legal education campaigns that have effectively raised public awareness about the crucial connection between preserving forests， the environment， and ensuring the safety of our local communities. No one is irrelevant." During the May Day holiday， Xie received a report from locals about some youngsters barbecuing near the Rock Painting Scenic Spot. Swiftly Xie and his colleagues intervened， extinguished the fire， and cautioned the offenders about the potential hazards.