Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

Despite receiving substantial rainfall, surface water in Southwest China's Guizhou province is scarce. That's because of the province's unique karst limestone landscape, which means as soon as the rain lands, it seeps through the soluble bedrock into the many caves and underground rivers.

This problem is particularly pronounced in Guizhou's rural areas, and so authorities have prioritized large-scale water conservation projects, including building infrastructure and ecological restoration, to improve the environment as well as the livelihoods of locals.

In the village of Cuiwei in Longli county, the rocky mountains have been transformed into valuable assets thanks to a small watershed soil conservation project.

Chen Yingxuan, a staff member at the soil and water conservation station of the Longli county water resources bureau, has been involved with the project since its inception.

"The hill slopes were unsuitable for agriculture, and rain would wash the soil into rivers, worsening siltation and pollution downstream," Chen said.

In 2022, the county piloted an eco-friendly soil conservation project that adopts an integrated approach to the management, maintenance and utilization of mountains.