More than 300 primary students and soldiers participated in an environment education program and picked up trash around the Lhalu Wetland Conservation area in Lhasa, capital of Tibet autonomous region, on June 5 to mark the 43rd World Environment Day. The wetland, the largest one near any Chinese city, plays a prominent role in maintaining Lhasa’s mild climate as it functions "like a lung for the city."

A team of 10 scholars and doctoral degree holders from all over the country joined the one-day activity to share their knowledge of environment protection with students and soldiers.

"We take this special day to teach other how to do good for environmental protection, and we hope the awareness of environment protection can be raised through this activity," said Zhang Lin, a member of the team.

Not only the students and soldiers were told to pick up trash off the ground, but they were also taught how to sort, recycle, and dispose the trash.

"It is my sixth time to attend the activity and it is so important for us students to participate in such an action. Our awareness of ecological conservation has been strengthened and we got the opportunity to contribute to the environment," said Feng Yingying, a primary school student at Lhasa’s Lhalu Primary School. "I think trash threatens our health. We collect waste, and afterwards we will sort out and recycle the trash," she said.

The students spent the rest of the day on the main streets of Lhasa to deliver leaflets and fliers related to environment protection, said Du Daolin, deputy director of the Environment Protection Department of Tibet.