Located between the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze, and the Lancang River in northwestern Yunnan Province, the Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve is one of China's richest reserves in terms of biodiversity, but one of the poorest areas in terms of its economy.

The nature reserve and its surrounding area are home to endangered species such as the snub-nosed monkey, snow leopard, and clouded leopard.

However, environmental destruction remains a serious problem, with degradation stemming mainly from agricultural expansion, the collection of firewood, overgrazing, and the illegal collection of herbs for traditional Chinese medicine.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has introduced a number of projects in the area to empower local communities through education to actively participate as citizens in decision-making and taking action to sustainably manage their environment and natural resources.

The organization has worked to achieve its objectives by facilitating a learning process through community-initiated activities to foster the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the participants in the sustainable management of their local natural resources.

Also, they are conducting short training courses to help increase the capacity and potential of the people and communities in the areas to shape and initiate change towards a sustainable future by connecting them to structure and processes of economic, political, and cultural decision-making.

They have also started a community-led dissemination process, using the lessons learned from the project to build such capacities among communities and partners in other project sites in China. Two community learning centres have already been set up at project sites in Dongsui and Yongdui villages in order to strengthen the institutional structure of the communities to lead the learning process through project activities and other future community initiatives.

Over 5.3 hectares of walnut trees were planted at Dongsui and Yongdui, facilitated by the community learning centres.

Twenty-four family bio-gas systems were installed at Dongsui, Yongdui, and Rineng villages, including training on installation techniques and financial measures to encourage replication of the techniques.

Meanwhile, 24 villagers were trained in veterinary care at project sites. They are now providing services to the communities in over 20 villages in and around the reserve.

The WWF has also established a partnership with local communities and government agencies and an agreement has been reached among the parties to support the development of the reserve.

(China Daily December 4, 2004)