China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation

The China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) is a proactive environmental non-governmental organization and a social legal entity which works to protect the environment, preserve natural resources and biodiversity in China and all around the globe.[1]

China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Founded1985 (1985)
FoundersLu Zhengcao, Qian Changzhao and Bao Erhan
FocusEnvironmental protection, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development
HeadquartersHaidian, Beijing, China
Area served
Global
Key people
Hu Deping (President), Zhou Jinfeng (Secretary General)
Employees
approx. 50
Volunteers
approx. 5,000–10,000
Websitewww.cbcgdf.org/English/

History

The foundation was founded in 1985 by Lu Zhengcao, Qian Changzhao and Bao Erhan, the former vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee to support the breeding and popularization of endangered Père David's deer species which was reintroduced back to China at that time. And it has worked since then on a number of resource management, environmental protection and conservation projects across China. Hu Deping is the current chairman of the foundation and Zhou Jinfeng is its secretary general.[2]

The foundation is made up of several expert committees and special funds for biodiversity conservation composed of dozens of academicians of the Chinese academy of engineering and many experts in environmental ecology and law commission made up of many lawyers and scholars.

Approach

The foundation is involved in conservation efforts in a number of ways.[3] It engages in lobbying the conservation work to community level through its Community conservation Areas (also called CCAfa) which it established in the April 2016 having till date over 100 CCAfas in China,[4] yet in some cases criticised as non-official. It has a number of educational initiatives to raise awareness of Environmental issues in China and to encourage sustainable practices.[5][6] It works with schools and with a large network of wildlife volunteers through local initiatives in target areas to ensure safe flyways for migratory birds.[7][8][9] [10] The NGO labels itself as grassroots-based, and the working system sometimes bring troubles to the Beijing-based NGO.[11][12][13][14]

Its scientific staff is engaged in research and management plans in reserve wildlife habitat across the country. It also advises industry and government bodies on sustainable development and environmental impacts for their projects in several cities in China.[15][16]

Species conservation

Endangered species the foundation focuses on include pangolin,[17][18] great bustard,[19] Yangtze River dolphin,[20][21] bluefin tuna,[22][23][24][25] acer pentaphyllum, etc. It is reported that the fierce battle between the foundation and the Guangxi Forestry Department opened a new reform for China's wildlife rescue system.[18][26][27][28][29][30]

Environmental public interest litigation

On the path of safeguarding public interests, since the revision of China's new Environmental Protection Law (2015) [31] giving non-governmental organizations the right to sue polluters on behalf of the public, the foundation has filed quite a number of Environmental Public Interest Litigation (EPIL) Cases against polluters and habitat destroyers causing harm to the environment and the people and wildlife living around it.[32][33] Famous cases include the lawsuit against Tengger Desert Pollution,[34][35][36][37] the litigation against oil giants ConocoPhillips and CNOOC over Bohai Bay oil spill,[38][39] and to protect old red willows from a hydropower project,[40] on old date trees,[41] to safeguard cultural and historic relics,[42][43] to protect Giant Panda, on poisonous school running tracks,[44][45][46][47] and the failed Changzhou School case,[48][49][50][51][52][53] etc.

Cultural field

The Foundation also promotes eco-tourism [5] and faith-based conservation [54][55] with the goal of expanding awareness of the countries natural resources and also creating economic incentives for a continued and expanded preservation.[56]

Partnerships

The CBCGDF has partnerships and international collaborations with a number of international environmental groups such World Wildlife Fund (WWF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), CITES and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In 2016, it signed a partnership agreement with the CMS making it the first Chinese organization to be partners with the CMS and in the process it also establish an initiative called the Ecological Belt and Road Initiative.[57]

References

[58][2][59][60][61][62]

  1. "Joining Forces for Greater Scale Impact: the role of ENGOs under the new Environmental Protection Law". cn.undp.org. United Nations Development Programme, China.
  2. "China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation". cbd.int. United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.
  3. "A changing China in a changing world and a changing climate from the perspective of a Chinese non-governmental organization - Ecology and Jesuits in Communication". www.ecojesuit.com. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  4. ""中华保护地"简介20180125- 中国生物多样性保护与绿色发展基金会". www.cbcgdf.org. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  5. The birds in lovely Dalian sky https://www.thestatesman.com/travel/dalian-eyes-sky-1502521007.html
  6. Exhibition of 19th Century Bird Art Opens In Beijing https://birdingbeijing.com/2017/04/03/exhibition-of-19th-century-bird-art-opens-in-beijing/
  7. NGO asks Jack Ma's Alibaba to stop selling clapnets for birds http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-06/29/content_25902146.htm
  8. World Migratory Bird Day：Stories from China https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/sites/default/files/World%20Migratory%20Bird%20Day%20Stories%20from%20the%20CBCGDF_20170510.pdf
  9. Red Knot Travelling Exhibition at the Second Tianjin http://eaaflyway.net/red-knot-travelling-exhibition-at-the-second-tianjin-international-bird-watching-competition/
  10. "Governments unite to conserve the world's heaviest flying animal". National Geographic Society Newsroom. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  11. Environmental Whistleblower Gets Prison Sentence https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002601/environmental-whistleblower-gets-prison-sentence
  12. "Detained Chinese Environmental Worker Released After Public Outcry". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  13. Tone, Sixth (31 March 2018). "Environmental Whistleblower Sues Police for Unlawful Detention". Sixth Tone. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  14. "Administrative detention of environmental protection worker Lei Ping officially withdrawn". chinadevelopmentbrief.cn. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  15. "Citizens Hope to Make a Big Difference at China's Top Political Meet-Up". Time. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  16. "Ministry to ensure pollution census done properly". www.ecns.cn. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  17. "Spotlight: Pangolin conservationists call for ban on illegal trade of mammal products - Xinhua - English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  18. Washington Post: China's push to export traditional medicine may doom the magical pangolin
  19. "IISD/ENBOTS @ CMS COP12 - 23-26 October 2017 - Manila, PH - IISD Reporting Services". enb.iisd.org. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  20. 金丹. "Photo raises hopes for survival of the 'Goddess of the Yangtze' - Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  21. Feature: Hope prevails for the baiji dolphin's comeback http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/08/c_137163770.htm
  22. Chinese NGOs Call Out WWF for Greenwashing Fishy Business http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000327/chinese-ngos-call-out-wwf-for-greenwashing-fishy-business#
  23. Bluefin tuna: a recipe for disaster? https://chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/9931-Bluefin-tuna-a-recipe-for-disaster-
  24. Bluefin Tuna: Critically Endangered Species or “World Gourmet”? https://www.eli.org/vibrant-environment-blog/bluefin-tuna-critically-endangered-species-or-%E2%80%9Cworld-gourmet%E2%80%9D
  25. "CEC Talks Nature - Saving Endangered Bluefin Tuna from Extinction: The Efforts". cectalksnature.org. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  26. Pangolins removed from textbooks as TCM ingredient http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201807/16/WS5b4bf3a8a310796df4df6914.html
  27. Conservationists Push China on Pangolin Protection https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-05-24/conservationists-push-china-on-pangolin-protection-101255777.html
  28. "'Pangolin Banquet' Official Sentenced to 10 Years for Unrelated Charges - Caixin Global". www.caixinglobal.com. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  29. St, Michael; aert. "Pangolin Smuggling Continues in China Despite Trade Ban (Corrected)". news.bloombergenvironment.com. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  30. "World Pangolin Day: Conservationists demand greater protection to stop extinction". english.cri.cn. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  31. 中华人民共和国环境保护法（自2015年1月1日起施行） http://bz.zhb.gov.cn/gzfw_13107/zcfg/fl/201605/t20160522_343393.shtml Archived 2018-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  32. "Practical Law UK Signon". uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com.
  33. "Environmental public interest litigation in the Qingdao maritime courts". 26 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  34. China Daily: NGO sues polluting companies for repair of damage http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2015-08/20/content_21655943.htm
  35. Xinhua: China's desert pollution case settled by mediation http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/28/c_136562563.htm
  36. Tengger case shows even big firms can't escape penalty for polluting http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2017-08/30/content_31304856.htm
  37. A Key Victory for Citizen Suits in China https://www.eli.org/vibrant-environment-blog/key-victory-citizen-suits-china
  38. Oil giants sued over Bohai spill http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-07/27/content_21414896.htm
  39. Chinese Eco Group Files Landmark Marine Pollution Lawsuit https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/167574/chinese-eco-group-files-landmark-marine-pollution-lawsuit
  40. Qinghai to relocate 'red willow' for hydropower project http://www.ecns.cn/news/society/2018-08-08/detail-ifywwxaw2290172.shtml
  41. Governments Fined $555,000 for Killing 500-Year-Old Trees http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001483/governments-fined-%24555%2C000-for-killing-500-year-old-trees
  42. Preserving Culture with EPIL http://asia-environment.vermontlaw.edu/2018/01/30/preserving-culture-with-epil/
  43. Demolishing Dalian: China's 'Russian' city is erasing its heritage – in pictures (China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) sued the city government in an effort to protect this network of historic streets) https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/mar/23/dalian-china-russian-city-heritage-demolition-in-pictures
  44. NYTIMES: China Vows to Replace ‘Poisonous’ Running Tracks at Schools https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/world/asia/china-running-tracks-poison-toxic.html
  45. A Win for Kids and the Environment in China https://www.eli.org/vibrant-environment-blog/win-kids-and-environment-china
  46. After legal mediation, Beijing kindergarten to remove synthetic running tracks https://www.ecns.cn/2017/04-12/252973.shtml
  47. Landmark environmental group legal victory over toxic school tracks http://chinaplus.cri.cn/news/china/9/20170411/2806.html
  48. School in China Near Closed Plants Has 500 Sick Kids https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-18/changzhou-china-school-has-500-sick-kids-due-to-toxins-report-says
  49. Chinese NGOs pay whopping legal fee after failed lawsuit against polluting enterprises http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/0208/c90000-9175499.html
  50. Chinese NGO to raise money after lawsuit failure against chemical plants http://english.cri.cn/12394/2017/02/07/3941s951362.htm
  51. Chinese Ruling Threatens Environmental Public Interest Suits https://www.bna.com/chinese-ruling-threatens-n57982084400
  52. NGOs lose lawsuit against polluting chemical plants https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/27/ngos-lose-lawsuit-polluting-chemical-plants-allegedly-responsible-sick-children-prestigious-changzhou-school
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  54. Laudato Si' inspires Catholic entities to divest from fossil fuels https://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/27239-laudato-si-inspires-catholic-entities-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels
  55. A Holistic and Proactive Approach to Biodiversity and Green Development from the Perspective of a Chinese Non-Governmental Organization http://www.casinapioiv.va/content/accademia/en/publications/scriptavaria/laudato_si_cop22/hu_deping.html
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  57. "CMS Signs First Partnership Agreement with Chinese NGO - CMS". www.cms.int. Archived from the original on 2017-10-21. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
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