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)