In the 60s of the 20th Century, the horse trail and hillside paths of Jiuzhaigou were the only link between the self-sufficient life of local Tibetans and the outside world. According to the Records of Nanping County-Jade Lake, Jiuzhaigou is within the boundary of Yangtong Tibetan-inhabited area, with valleys as long as several kilometers, where lake water is green and reflects the nearby forest images. Its virgin forests had not been disturbed until the end of the 1960s when large groups of lumber workers started work at Jiuzhaigou. In 1975,the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sent a team to Jiuzhaigou for field investigation, who were surprisingly impressed by its natural beauty and immedialely publicized their surveys and comments——Jiuzhaigou collects rich and rare animal and plant resources, and most of all. It is to become a place of scenic interest well-known throughout the world. After their visit, Professor and Expert of Forestry Wu Zhonglun, president of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, together with officials of Sichuan Forestry Department, visited Jiuzhaigou and completed a fullround investigation. They prepared a document requesting Sichuan People's Government and Sichuan Forestry Department lo lake immediate measures for conservation of Jiuzhaigou's resources. Sichuan Forestry Department worked out an official document to notify Nanpin County Forestry Bureau that felling could only take place 200 meters away along the Zechawa Valley and Rize Valley. This is the earliest formal measure taken to conserve Jiuzhaigou resources. In 1977, Sichuan Rare Animal Investigation Team proposed that Nanping While River Nature Reserve be extended to cover the Jiuzhaigou area. In the same year, the Academia Sinica (Chengdu Branch) again stated the significance and necessity for setting up the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. Furthermore, they reported the matter directly to the Academia Sinica headquarters. Sichuan CPC Committee and Sichuan People's Government.
On December 15, 1978. the State Council promulgated a document (Code No. 256), formally announcing that four belts of Jiuzhaigou are listed as the National Nature Reserve, and felling is strictly prohibited, including any lumbering productive activities within the valleys. In 1979, the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve Adminisiration was officially established, and meanwhile, two forestry farms were removed out of Jiuzhaigou. Since 1979, the Ministry of Forestry and National Construction Commission, Sichuan and local governments and Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve Administration invested billions of RMB yuan for construction and conservation works, including works against mudflows, forest renewal, infrastructure works, environmental protection, and tourist development projects. In 1984, the Slate Council listed Jiuzhaigou as the National Key Place of Scenic Interest. In 1992, it was included by the UNESCO in the World Natural Heritage list. In 1998. Jiuzhaigou was conferred the World Biosphere credential, and in 2002, the “Green Globe 21” authentication credential.
Exploitation of Jiuzhaigou is a successful example of rational utilization of forestry prospecting and bio conservation, and an outstanding contribution of China to the human progress. The Chinese people take the conservation of Jiuzhaigou in the overall situations in global modern conservation undertakings, and demonstrate their lofty national characters. Progress of Jiuzhaigou may not be a wonder, yet the real wonder is that a developing country like China has left the best natural beauty to our generations today and tomorrow.
