Although Wu works hard to chase down the wood cutters, he also sympathizes with them. "I feel guilty chasing them away, because they are taking risks just to make a living. We know each other and they are good villagers," Wu sighs. "It feels like I am setting obstacles for them to live a better life."

"We hold meetings to explain ourselves," says Ran Jingcheng, chief director of the reserve's Management Bureau. "Protection is not a fight between us and the villagers; rather it is about close cooperation. When we protect the forest, we also benefit the villagers."

Qin Zhengji, a 41-old villager, understood this after attending talks organized by the bureau on Karst topography and its conservation. Qin is now familiar with many rare trees, which he used to cut down for use as firewood.

He proudly points at a hillside where the greenery extends all the way down. "It was once stripped of its trees and this even affected our fresh water supplies. But we volunteered to plant more trees and now find that the quality of water is getting better."

Villagers also help to look after the forest. Ran says when a fire broke out in the forest last year, 60 villagers were already there trying to put out the fire when his team arrived. Also, the bureau gets immediate reports if trees are cut in the protected zone.

Qin says although they don't quite understand what the World Heritage List means, they know that protecting their forests is a solid guarantee for their future.

The village has also taken measures to adopt eco-friendly development in order to minimize human impact.

Qin Chunshai, the village head, says of the 55 households in Yaogu, 70 percent are equipped with bio-gas pools, which generate electricity for domestic appliances.

"We search for alternatives to increase our living standard, for example, developing eco-tourism." He is happy that a highway between Libo, the county town, and the village is bringing visitors. Apart from guiding tourists through the forest, locals earn money by selling home-made cloth, wine and decorations.

However, the village head expresses worries over the increasing number of visitors. He says the forest is different from other scenic spots and visitors should focus more on its biodiversity and unique landscape.

"Villagers now have high awareness about protecting the forest, but we are not sure others will treasure this land the same way."

People in Yaogu village, Libo county, using traditional methods to make liquor.

The old pastoral way of life has been well preserved in Libo county's rural areas.