On February 22, as the Alxa Tetraena Mongolica Nature Reserve in Inner Mongolia celebrated its first anniversary, staff from the Alxa League Protected Areas and Wildlife Conservation Center and the Alxa Left Banner Science, Technology, Forestry, and Grassland Bureau visited the reserve to assess the living conditions and growth of Tetraena mongolica, often called the "giant panda of the plant world."  

According to the reserve’s rangers, over the past year, 166 boundary markers and 7 warning signs have been installed, along with a 24-hour video surveillance tower. Regular patrols and monitoring have minimized human interference. As a result, Tetraena mongolica is thriving, its habitat is steadily improving, and the grassland ecosystem is recovering. Rangers have even spotted wild animals moving through the area.  

Tetraena mongolica, known as a "living fossil" and a national second-class protected plant, is unique to the eastern Alxa region of western Inner Mongolia. To protect this endangered species, Alxa League has conducted specialized surveys, established observation plots, implemented patrol mechanisms, and set up the autonomous region-level nature reserve. Additionally, the Alxa Left Banner’s forestry nursery has been researching propagation techniques, including cuttings, direct seeding, and field planting, to improve survival rates and habitat conditions.  

Moving forward, Alxa League will enhance the reserve’s infrastructure and management, continue scientific research on Tetraena mongolica and other rare plants, and support their conservation and role in combating desertification.