Twenty-Year Collaborative Construction Journey of Cycad Yam
“Cycad Yam” derives its name from the villagers living around the Sichuan Panzhihua Cycad National Nature Reserve, who collected high-quality yam seeds growing in the reserve as germplasm resources for artificial propagation under the guidance of staff from the Protection Center. Traditional digging activities by villagers around the reserve are restricted by the reserve’s relevant laws and regulations, leading to conflicts between ecological conservation efforts and villagers’ livelihoods. Through introduction and cultivation, technical support, and industrial upgrading, a “reserve + community” joint construction model has been established. This initiative provides both ecological and economic benefits, achieving a win-win outcome for ecological conservation and rural revitalization, boosting income for approximately 300 households, and establishing Cycad Yam as a characteristic industry promoting common prosperity in the local area.