After the launch of the Natural Forest Protection Program, Tian handed in his shotgun, burnt the animal heads hanging all over his door frame, and quit hunting.
Xiangsiling Village, having 101 households, is the most outlying village in Shennongjia. In the past, the phenomena of wild animals damaging crops or black bears stealing honey were common in Shennongjia National Park, and this village was among those whose planting and breeding production was seriously damaged in this area.
The scenery here is stunning, especially on a rainy day: it looks like a fairyland with misty valley and murmuring stream. “In the past, the people here all disliked rainy days. Who would imagine that it has become a special view now...”
On June 16, 2021, Cao Yunqing, who lives in Qingtianpao Village in Muyu Town, exhorted Wan Nengxiu, aged 61, not to fell the trees at will and to guard against forest fires when he saw the latter planting vegetables on the mountain.
"I won't even hurt a wild boar that eats crops in my field," said Zhao Yuanjiu, a villager of Xiangsiling Village in Xiagu Township. An agricultural disaster insurance and a commercial insurance against wildlife hazard allow villagers to grow any crop with no worries.