Major Chinese automaker GAC Motor has made great contributions toward the protection and preservation of what will be China's first national park - Sanjiangyuan National Park - which is set to open to the public in 2020.

At a news conference held on July 8, details of GAC Motor's achievements were revealed and five forest rangers awarded for their efforts in protecting the environment of the area located in Northwest China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Sanjiangyuan National Park, translated in English to Three-River-Source National Park, is home to the source of three major rivers in China, the Yangtze, Yellow and Mekong (known in China as Lancang) rivers.

As of 2016, GAC Motor has worked with the management of Sanjiangyuan National Park and the World Wildlife Fund to aid in ecological protection and daily operations of the park, as part of the company's overall corporate social responsibility.

A report released at the conference detailed GAC Motor's contributions toward construction, education, ecological conservation and environmental protection in the park since 2016.

"With Sanjiangyuan National Park opening in 2020, greater public attention will be placed on the importance of ecological protection," said Yu Jun, president of GAC Motor.

"The project not only involves the government, enterprises and non-governmental organizations, but also, more importantly, volunteers from GAC Motor," said Yong Yi, director of environmental education at WWF China.

Together they are exploring a new mechanism for social participation.

In preparation for the park's opening, major breakthroughs have been made in terms of monitoring the environment and biodiversity in the park.

A total of 26 species of wetland birds have been recorded, along with nearly 15,000 birds in total, including endangered saker falcons and vulnerable black-necked cranes.

The scarcely seen snow leopard have been captured on camera at the source of Yellow River, and the rare black wolf was photographed for the first time, confirming the species' existence in China.

This is evidence of the effectiveness of the protection and restoration of natural resources and the ecosystem of Sanjiangyuan National Park, according to GAC Motor. The carmaker, based in Guangzhou, has donated 25 vehicles - 22 of its GS8 SUVs and three GS5 SUVs - to the national park's management.

These flagship SUVs are used as patrol cars, delivering optimal performance on and off road at high altitudes, in rain, sleet, snow and mud.

"GAC Motor is not only giving us material and financial aid, but also encouragement, which provides great strength to us," said Yuan Guangming, a ranger awarded for his hard work in the park.

On July 9, wetland ambassadors comprised of media representatives and other volunteers were invited to explore the Angsai Grand Canyon in Yushu, Qinghai province, observing the precious wetland environment and animal and plant species.

Being the source of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers, the area provides a lifeline that helps to preserve the ecology in China and even Asia.

In the past three years, GAC Motor has played an active role, becoming the first enterprise to participate in the construction of the national park. "GAC Motor, with its strong sense of social responsibility, will continue to explore and move forward in building an ecological civilization and join forces with all parties to build a beautiful China," said the automaker in a statement.

"The three parties will next carry out research on communities along the Lancang River, to help lift local people out of poverty by supporting them in making the transition to an alternative livelihood strategy," the company added.  

A fleet of GAC Motor SUVs with wetland ambassadors are on the road of the Sanjiangyuan National Park. Photos provided to China Daily