At daybreak, Qinghai Lake shimmers in the first morning light. Along its quiet shoreline, Dorje Tsomo raises her camera to capture the moment — a daily ritual she performs before going to work as an ecological caretaker.
As a member of the Quanwan Ecological Protection Station of the Qinghai Lake Scenic Area Management Bureau, Tsomo patrols over 70 kilometers of lakefront that spans rivers, grasslands, woodlands, and scenic zones.
Each morning, she sets out with her notebook and bird guide, photographing and identifying unfamiliar species.
However, her work extends far beyond observation. She checks for overgrazing, land degradation, fire hazards from herders' winter stockpiles, and the impacts of human activity caused by litter and wastewater, and tourists venturing into core protected areas.
"The core zone is home to many wild animals and nesting birds," she says. "Only patrollers are allowed in. My job is to spot problems and solve them."
It's a responsibility the 27-year-old shoulders with quiet pride. For someone who grew up on these highlands and has always loved nature, it's nothing short of a dream job.
Qinghai Lake, situated in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is China's largest inland saline lake and a vital ecological treasure. Recognized as an internationally important wetland and a high-altitude biodiversity reservoir, conservation efforts have long been a focus.
The Qinghai Lake National Park completed its foundational work in recent years, and a new generation, including Tsomo, is taking the baton to safeguard and share the beauty of this vital highland ecosystem.
"Our station has more than 60 patrollers, many around my age. We walk the land of our hometown, using our feet to measure and protect it," Tsomo says.
Her unique career path into conservation was shaped by her roots. After earning a degree in education in 2023, she chose to stay close to home and join the ecological protection station. Her parents, local herders with 200-300 heads of cattle and sheep, supported her decision.
"This job is right at my doorstep. I can go home on weekends to see my parents. My income is 3,000 yuan ($418) a month," she says.
Patrollers aren't alone in this mission. Local herders also volunteer their time and knowledge to support environmental protection. "Sometimes they spot wildlife or environmental issues and send the information to us," Tsomo says.
Technology has also become part of their toolkit. "We use a WeChat mini-program to record patrol routes, and nearby villagers report injured birds promptly. Together, we protect Qinghai Lake — the home we all share."
She recalls working with volunteers to rescue an injured, nationally protected Upland Buzzard. Such experiences are part of why she's striving to learn as much as she can about the local biodiversity. So far, she's learned to identify more than a dozen of the 200-plus bird species that call the Qinghai Lake area home.
