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(cont.)
Karst landscape: Limestone forests in Southwest Guangxi |
Mr Liang advised the graduates to spend eight to ten
years on field work, so that with solid foundation and
skills, they could then work effectively in administrative
offices, scientific research institutes or universities. Taking
the minister's advice, Wu requested a transfer to the
Forest Survey Team of Guangxi Province. It is evident he
made the right choice. From then, he thrived beyond his
imagination.
In 1958, Wu became deputy leader of the Team, and for
the first time joined the Guangxi Red River Integrated
Research Project coordinated by the Chinese Academy of
Sciences. The project was undertaken by participants from
over 20 professions. Each was equipped with a horse and
received favourable treatment. The authorities paid great
attention to the project. Government officials took part in
the meetings and gave them encouraging remarks. "As a
scientist valued by the country, I was most honoured. At
the same time, I also reminded myself to do my very best
for the country." Wu continued: "At that time, I was very
lucky to have the opportunity to work with many veteran
experts. Some were over 70 years old. I learned not only
from what they taught me but also how they did their
work. They were my inspiring mentors."
Forest Survey Team - mountain men and treasure hunters
From then on, Wu conducted forest resource surveys
wholeheartedly. At that time, the transportation network
of Guangxi was rather inconvenient and the economy
was not yet developed. Two-thirds of the land area was
mountainous. Of this, two-thirds was karst. Yet the resource
of unexploited forests was very rich. What was a forest
resource survey? Wu explained: "Every year, we spent at
least eight months in the wild. Every month, no less than
25 days. Every day, no less than eight hours. Each of us
received 46 catties of rice each month."
The survey team were known as "mountain men". Every
day, they woke up at dawn. After breakfast, they packed
their lunch, water and sampling tools and headed towards
the mountains, returning to the campsite by sunset.
At night, they lit an oil lamp and were busy pressing
specimens, doing calculations, drawings etc. As a forest
management professional, after conducting surveys Wu
had to make plans for the exploitation of forest resources.
They included where to process the materials and how to
transport them: by air, train, or constructing new roads.
The organization has been renamed a couple of times, though Wu remained committed to his duties. He was a senior engineer when he retired from the Institute. |
Starting in 1967, Wu's team was appointed to research
the rare plant resources of Guangxi. As a result, they won
another title - the treasure hunters. The treasures included
plants for medicinal purposes and starch supplements.
Yet there was another important mission. "Due to the
Zhenbao Island Incident1, there was a great demand by
the military for resources like Horsfieldia glabra (BL.)
Warbg2, and ingredients for making explosives3. Although
it was known that some of them could be found in the
Northeast, it was time-consuming to transport them all
the way to Guangxi, so we had to find the resources here."
Consequently, led by Wu, the team accomplished their
mission. Wu was proud of the result.
Wu devoted long hours to survey work across Guangxi. He
knew the populations of wild plants and the distribution of
rare species very well. Looking at the old photos, Wu was
excited to tell us where he found the 70-metre Parashorea
chinensis, the Cathay Silver Fir Cathaya argyrophylla, and
the mighty "king of Burretiodendron hsienmu" hidden
in the deepest part of the forest. His passion lights up not
only his heart but also those of others around him.
1 The 1969 border conflict with the USSR in the Ussuri River,
bordering Heilongjiang.
2 In the past, when the weather was cold, the fuel of the tanks would
freeze. Extracts of this plant were mixed with the fuel to prevent
this.
3 Plants included Myrica rubra (Lour), Phyllanthus emblica Linn and
Castanea fissa (Ret W.)
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