After the storm, the village was a scene of devastation. The once lush hillsides were now barren, large swaths of soil exposed. Many trees were uprooted and lay scattered on the ground; the clear streams were now murky, the banks eroded and uneven by the flood, and aquatic plants had been swept away, leaving only withered branches and leaves floating on the surface. Lin Yue gazed at the scene before her, her heart filled with sorrow, but her eyes remained resolute, for she knew the battle for ecological restoration after the disaster had begun.
Lin Yue quickly organized a post-disaster ecological restoration team, whose members included young and middle-aged laborers from the village, some elderly people with a good understanding of the ecological environment, and ecological experts invited from the city. They first conducted a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the disaster situation. The ecological experts, equipped with professional instruments, measured soil erosion and water pollution levels on the hillsides and along the streams. After several days of hard work, a detailed disaster assessment report was completed. The report showed that the soil loss on the hillsides reached several thousand cubic meters, and vegetation cover in some areas decreased by nearly 50 percent; the silt content in the streams exceeded the standard by dozens of times, and the dissolved oxygen content in the water decreased significantly, seriously threatening the survival environment of many fish and aquatic organisms.
Based on the assessment results, the restoration team formulated a scientific and reasonable ecological restoration plan. The first step was to replant trees. They selected tree species suitable for local growth, with well-developed root systems and strong soil and water conservation capabilities, such as pine, cypress, and oak. During the tree planting process, Lin Yue personally led the villagers up the mountain. Carrying saplings, she walked firmly along the rugged mountain path. A young villager, watching her busy figure, said with concern, "Sister Lin Yue, take a break, this work is too tiring." Lin Yue wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled, saying, "It's not tiring. This is our home, and we must restore its vitality as soon as possible." Inspired by her enthusiasm and perseverance, the villagers also threw themselves into the tree planting work with great enthusiasm. Everyone dug holes, planted trees, and watered them according to the prescribed spacing, doing every step carefully and meticulously. According to statistics, in the first tree planting season, they planted more than 100,000 saplings. These saplings were neatly arranged on the hillside, like little green guardians, building a new line of defense against soil erosion.
In restoring the stream's ecosystem, the recovery team implemented a comprehensive set of measures. First, they constructed a simple dam upstream to intercept silt brought by the flood, reducing its impact downstream. Then, they organized villagers to clear debris and silt from the stream, carefully replanting some aquatic plants washed ashore. To restore biodiversity, they introduced juvenile fish and aquatic insects from nearby unaffected streams. Simultaneously, they planted cattails, reeds, and other aquatic plants along the banks, which not only purify the water but also provide habitats and food for aquatic life. After several months of effort, the stream's water gradually became clearer, and aquatic life began to flourish again. Observations showed that the number of fish in the stream had increased nearly threefold compared to the initial post-disaster period, and the variety of aquatic insects had also increased significantly.
Throughout the post-disaster ecological restoration process, Lin Yue emphasized ecological education for the villagers. She held several lectures on ecological restoration in the village square, explaining to the villagers the interrelationships of ecosystems, the importance of trees and vegetation for soil and water conservation, and the role of aquatic organisms in stream ecosystems. She used simple language to say, "Fellow villagers, our village is like a big family. The trees on the mountain, the water in the river, and the small animals in the soil are all members of this family. This disaster has taught us that if one member is injured, the whole family will be affected. Therefore, we must protect them well so that they can all live healthily in our home." After listening, the villagers gained a deeper understanding and awareness of ecological protection.
The village elders also played a unique role in post-disaster ecological restoration. Drawing on their years of experience, they knew which wild plant seeds were suitable for collection and sowing during this season. They led the children to search for these seeds on the hillside and then scattered them in suitable locations. One elder, while sowing seeds, told the children stories of past natural disasters in the village and how their ancestors had carried out ecological restoration. These stories not only passed on the ecological wisdom of the older generation but also made the children cherish the natural environment even more.
As post-disaster ecological restoration work progressed, the village gradually began to regain its former vitality. Saplings on the hillside sprouted tender green buds, swaying gently in the breeze; the streams were crystal clear, and fish swam happily in the water; birds returned to the woods, chirping melodiously. The villagers, witnessing the changes in their village, were filled with joy and pride. They knew that this was the result of everyone's joint efforts and a solid guarantee for a better future.
Standing on the hillside, gazing at the transformed village, Lin Yue was filled with emotion. She recalled the tension and worry during the disaster, and the hardships and sweat endured during the recovery process. But now, all the effort had transformed into the beautiful scenery before her and the hope in her heart. She believed that after this ordeal, the village's ecological environment would be more stable, and the villagers would cherish this hard-won green landscape even more, steadfastly continuing on the path of ecological development.
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