Peng Yu's early days of working at the Mengda National Natural Reserve left a lot of bitter memories.

Fifteen years ago, it was no surprise that Peng's daily routine of monitoring and caring for various species saw her wear out at least three pairs of shoes a year, especially as she sometimes lost her way after darkness enveloped the 17,290-hectare reserve.

Recently, though, the 41-year-old's job has become much easier because China is moving ahead with construction of a national biodiversity network that features many smart devices and facilities.

Tramping across the reserve's rugged terrain at an average altitude of more than 2,800 meters in Xunhua Salar autonomous county, Qinghai province, is never easy.

Peng's work can take her anywhere, through thick bushes and tall plants, and in a reserve as big as Mengda, it is easy for staff to lose their bearings.

In May 2008, for example, Peng's team failed to find its way back to their office until almost 9 pm, and one of her colleagues almost stepped off the edge of a cliff because of the low light and the dense greenery.

The daily routine became even more challenging when the plants became infected with pests. Some of her colleagues had to walk around the reserve carrying 20-kilogram sprayers containing pesticide. Her office illustrated the Spartan conditions. "I had almost nothing but a desk," Peng recalled.