Four individuals and an organization were awarded the title of "Guards of Wildlife around the Border of China". The first national award for wildlife protection and law enforcement around China's border encourages those who have made significant contributions to anti-poaching campaigns and monitoring illegal wildlife trade.

The Forestry Public Security Bureau in Tengchong county, Yunnan province was one of the winners. Since 2003, the bureau handled more than 2,000 cases and confiscated more than 700 wildlife products, 100 pieces of fur and 13 tusks.

Another winner at the Beijing awards last month was a Tibetan police officer, Qampa Tserin, who has successfully stopped the illegal trade of Tibetan antelope.

Twenty individuals and groups were nominated and behind each person and group there is a touching story. Winners will attend special training and also have the opportunity to study abroad under WCS.

According to Dong Zhiyong, former vice minister of State Forestry Administration, China is still facing a grave situation in environmental protection and applauded the efforts of the nominees.

(China Daily January 5, 2009)