Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner in Baotou recently became the only place in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region to be listed among the fifth group of national ecological civilization construction demonstration zones.

Baotou has continued to strengthen the protection and restoration of its ecosystems as well as the zoning control of the environment for many years now. The city has been promoting the integrated protection and systematic treatment of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grass and sand, facilitating the development of Daqingshan National Nature Reserve, stepping up grassland protection and restoration, and increasing the carbon sink of ecosystems.

To date, it has built five nature reserves with a total area of 184,332 hectares, accounting for about 6.7 percent of the city's total area, which contain forest, wetland and desert grassland ecosystems.

Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, which includes a variety of ecosystems, has achieved tangible results in environmental governance and restoration. By coordinating the management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grass and sand, the banner has improved the water and forestry ecology of an area of 2.1 million mu (140,000 hectares) over the past five years. The forest coverage rate and natural grassland vegetation average coverage rate have been increased to 14.9 percent and 31.7 percent respectively.

The Department of Ecology and Environment of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Baotou municipal Party committee and Baotou municipal government have attached great importance to the establishment of the national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone. A total of 43 indicators are required to be improved through on-site guidance and the assistance of expert groups sent by the autonomous regional department.

The national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone is the highest honor in regional pollution prevention and control work to be granted by the CPC Central Committee, and affirms Baotou's achievements in ecological civilization construction.

Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. In the future, Baotou will spare no effort to become a high-quality green city and a pioneer in achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality.