At over 4,000 meters above sea level, Chinese and Tajik scientists braved bitter winds as they followed the tracks of Marco Polo sheep. When a herd appeared along the snow line, the team quickly set up a spotting scope and began recording data.

For the joint expedition team, this was a typical day in the high Pamirs.

The Marco Polo sheep, made famous in the medieval travelogue of its namesake, is considered a flagship species of the plateau.

"Whenever we encounter suitable habitats for Marco Polo sheep, we stop and observe. Sometimes we see only a few, sometimes dozens. Each sighting is valuable for our research," said Yang Weikang, a researcher at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

A Marco Polo sheep is seen roaming the Pamir Plateau, Tajikistan. /VCG

Cross-border science

Stretching across Central Asia, the Pamirs featuring harsh conditions of radiation, thin air and cold have shaped rare, stress-resistant genetic resources.

Recognizing that wildlife conservation crosses borders, China and Tajikistan launched the Sino-Tajikistan Joint Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources in March 2022. Since then, the lab has organized joint expeditions, hosted international conferences, trained graduate students and carried out cross-border projects with scientists from several countries.

"We go on expeditions about once a quarter, usually more than 10 days at a time," said Wang Muyang, another researcher at XIEG. "We record species, altitude and numbers during surveys, and also interview herders to learn about local wildlife distribution."

The team gathers not only observations but also feces, which offer essential insights into dietary habits. "Through feces, we can analyze dietary composition and determine which plants animals prefer," Yang said. "This helps us design targeted conservation measures for endangered species."

Joint surveys have revealed that Marco Polo sheep habitats are increasingly fragmented, with border fences blocking migration routes. "Fragmented habitats cause population decline," Yang said. "We have recommended modifying border fences to ensure cross-border migration corridors remain open."

The lab has submitted advisory reports to the Tajik government and called for regional cooperation to safeguard the species.

Bandir Blue Lake, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China. /VCG

A parallel mission: Plants

While Yang and Wang track wildlife, Li Wenjun's team focuses on plants. Year-round, they collect seeds and specimens, noting coordinates, elevation and habitat type.

"From a distance, we look like beggars; up close, we are scientists," Li joked. "We carry woven plastic bags because we collect so many specimens."

Specimens are dried immediately to prevent decay. "It's normal for us to work until 3 or 4 a.m.," Li said. "The first day is easy, but later the workload piles up. If we don't process leaves the same day, they wilt."

Li and his team are also working to establish a multilingual plant diversity database for the arid zones of Central Asia, aimed at bridging gaps in biodiversity data sharing and conservation efforts. The database will integrate Chinese, English and Russian and create an open-access platform to support cross-disciplinary research and biodiversity mapping, Li said.

"We plan to complete the digitization of 1 million plant specimens by 2026, establishing a comprehensive biodiversity database," he said. By 2030, the project aims to expand its network across Belt and Road countries, developing into a global hub of arid-zone plant diversity data to support climate adaptation and sustainable development policies.

"By digitally managing the plant specimens preserved in herbariums, we can use big data analysis to uncover trends in plant development amid climate change," said Zhang Yuanming, director of the institute. "We are building an arid region bio-resource bank – like a Noah's Ark for life in drylands."

A view of the Pamir Plateau, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China. /VCG

Harsh but rewarding

Fieldwork is not easy. Researchers often sleep on dried dung in sheep pens, which they say is warm and bug-free. Language barriers complicate matters further, as conversations shift between Chinese, Russian and Tajik, relying on handheld translators that often struggle in remote areas.

Still, the hardships are outweighed by the thrill of discovery. "Days can pass without seeing an animal. Then suddenly a herd appears – it feels like discovering a new world," Wang said.

Shared meals have also helped to lift spirits. "In the field, naan bread with chili sauce is unbeatable," said Chen Chen, another team member.

The joint lab now also partners with institutions in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In August 2024, Chinese scientists launched a major expedition in Uzbekistan to address the Aral Sea's ecological crisis. "This expedition will study biodiversity, soil, hydrology and topography in the dried-up lake basin, and then propose a restoration and development roadmap," Zhang said.

In October 2024, the joint lab was elevated to the China-Tajikistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use. Zhang anticipates an increase in collaboration among scientists from Belt and Road countries in biodiversity research focused on arid lands.

"Biodiversity conservation is a global challenge – no single country can address it alone," said Abdusattor Samadovich Saidov, an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, also the Tajik director of the joint lab. "Transboundary cooperation is crucial, particularly in regions like Central Asia, where species such as migratory birds and mammals traverse national borders." Saidov called for the joint lab to carry out continued cooperation on species surveys, conservation initiatives and shared research.

For Zhang, international cooperation in science goes beyond data. "It builds trust and connects people," he said. "By advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, we can protect ecological security, improve quality of life and build a true community of life for man and nature."

(Cover: Muztagh Ata on the Pamir Plateau, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China. /VCG)