Gray herons build a nest in Ziwuling. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

Living with nature

Electricity infrastructure is increasingly becoming part of wider ecological governance.

In the Qilian Mountains, spanning Qinghai and Gansu, the rich yet fragile ecosystems are home to 48 nationally protected wildlife species, including snow leopards and golden eagles. The vast terrain and complex geography have long limited traditional monitoring.

In many core conservation zones, the absence of stable electricity has also constrained digital management tools, making continuous ecological observation difficult.

This gap led to the introduction of the Green Power Ark project, a national initiative launched in 2022 to integrate clean energy with biodiversity protection. By 2023, the project encompassed 13 ecological sites across China.

At the Gucheng conservation station in Tianzhu, a remote area of Gansu, the project installed a solar-powered microgrid system. The system, operating from 2024, integrates photovoltaic generation, battery storage, infrared cameras and 4G data transmission, forming a zero-carbon forest monitoring platform.

It enables continuous monitoring of wildlife activity, vegetation change and fire risks — shifting conservation from periodic patrols to permanent observation.

"In the past, monitoring depended largely on people," said a project engineer. "Now, technology allows continuous observation across vast and complex terrain."

State Grid Gansu said it is working closely with forestry departments, wetland authorities and local governments through joint patrols, data sharing and coordinated planning, to align grid operations with ecological priorities.