Since 2009, Shan Shui Conservation Center has been working to conserve high-altitude ecosystems in the Sanjiangyuan region of Qinghai, with the snow leopard as a flagship species. Drawing on traditional knowledge and scientific research, Shan Shui seeks to promote community-led species and habitat conservation in the context of climate change and a market economy, while developing models and practical experience to inform the development of a protected area system centered on national parks.

Located on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, Sanjiangyuan is the source of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers and a vital source of freshwater replenishment for China. It also serves as a critical ecological security barrier. Its unique geographical location and rich natural resources provide habitats for numerous endemic and threatened species. The region contains the world’s largest contiguous snow leopard habitat and is one of the areas with the greatest diversity and highest density of large carnivores on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and globally. In 2015, Sanjiangyuan became China’s first pilot area for the national park system. In 2021, Sanjiangyuan National Park was among the first batch of officially established national parks in China. By 2021, Shan Shui had expanded the conservation work to Qilian Mountain National Park in Qinghai, as well as Nagqu and Dingqing County in Tibet, covering a wider range of snow leopard habitats.

Shan Shui works with Peking University and local communities to establish a monitoring system that integrates long-term camera  trap monitoring, genetic research, ungulate surveys, and grassland monitoring, supporting research on wildlife and ecosystems. In parallel, Shan Shui collaborates with local communities to implement conservation initiatives addressing issues such as anti-poaching, human–wildlife conflict, grassland restoration, concession-based nature experiences, and waste management. These efforts also explore pathways for sustainable community development that are compatible with conservation. In addition, Shan Shui works with local governments and relevant authorities to provide policy recommendations informed by practical, on-the-ground experience.

Shan Shui’s conservation work in Sanjiangyuan has received long-term support from its strategic partner, Huatai Securities, through the “One Yangtze River” initiative.