Qinghai Lake in Northwestern China is an important filtration system to prevent desert sand from entering the rest of China but it is threatened from all fronts with humans and infrastructure polluting the water quality and killing wildlife. Climate change and desertification are also affecting it. These issues threaten the lake’s ecosystem and the local communities. When our family traveled to Qinghai in summer 2021, we visited the protection station that Mr Nanjia, a local Qinghai resident, set up in the early 2000s. I was so motivated by his acts of bravery and commitment to his homeland. He has led his community to have a positive impact on the Qinghai Lake and its wildlife. Read more about me being a Tree Hugger here.
Recently there was an English (wow!) news article that talked about Nanjia and his work.
RAP: My mum and I wrote this rap at the airport on the way back home. I hope it inspires you to also protect our lakes and rivers. It’s in Mandarin but I have English lyrics below.
Protect Qinghai Lake (Rapper: Ysabelle S., Lyrics by Ysabelle S. and mum)
There is a Qinghai Lake in China
Located in the southern part of Qinghai Province.
4500 square kilometers
The area is massive and most definitely not small
The desert moves from the Northwest
A natural filtration preventing invasion to the Central Plains.
Lake carps grow slowly
A tenth of a pound in a year, one pound in a decade.
Endangered species Tan antelopes
Only 200 remain
Fishermen catch and kill lake carps
Agricultural fences hurt the antelope herds
Tourist trash fills the lake
Plans are made to build a hotel pier
Who will protect this environment?
Local NanJia sets up a Protection Station
Organizing villagers to clean up the trash
He gathered more than 70 cars
To fend off the hunters and fishermen
Recreating safe fences to rescue the antelopes
You can protect the environment too.
Do not use plastic drinking bottles
Do not eat wildlife and prevent pandemics
You can be an environmental steward too!
中国有个青海湖
位于青海省南部
4500平方公里
面小少了还不行
北面西域沙漠来
天然过滤不进中原
湖里湟鱼长得慢
一每年一两十年一斤
濒危物种滩原羚
全球只剩二零零
猎人捕杀小湟鱼
农场围栏刺羊群
游客垃圾满湖撤
酒店码头将临近
谁来保护这环境、这环境！
南加投立保护站
召集七十余车队
盯着猎人赶出去
改造围栏救羚羊
你也可以保护环境
喝水不用塑料瓶
不吃野味没有疫情
环保卫士你也行，你也行！